What This Story Is About
- The owner of Plum Tree Chinese Restaurant discusses her upcoming retirement and what’s ahead for her and the new restaurant owners.
Why It Matters
- It has been open for more than four decades on Kingston Pike in Knoxville.
- The restaurant officially closes on July 31.
Catch Up
- It is one of three Knoxville eateries in the last week to announce its closure, along with Denton’s and Myrtle’s Chicken and Beer.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – After more than four decades in operation under its first owner and nearly two decades under current ownership, Plum Tree Chinese Restaurant is preparing to close and change hands — a decision owner Christeen Silavong said was driven by health concerns and the strain of running a business with a limited staff.
“This restaurant opened in the 1980s,” Silavong said, adding it has been around “over 42 years” dating back to the first owner. Silavong said she has owned the restaurant since 2007 and has spent much of her life inside its walls.
“I really enjoy working here. It’s like my second home because I spend most of my time here,” she said.
A decision shaped by health
Silavong said she and her husband are stepping away after dealing with ongoing medical issues from years of physically demanding work…