Zach and Erika Shumaker are saying goodbye to their passion project as they announce the closing of their Chinese restaurant, General Shu, on Wednesday, March 27.

“When we first opened up during the pandemic, we didn’t know that it was going to last this long,” Zach Shumaker said. “It’s something we really loved.”

On April 6, General Shu at 210 S. Main St. in Zelienople will close its doors. The owners said that with the closure, they will now be able to focus on their brewery, ShuBrew which also is in Zelienople.

The couple said they opened General Shu during the pandemic to provide an opportunity for their employees to work during the shutdown due to the increase in demand for takeout food.

It also gave the couple a chance to expand their culinary talents.

“It was a fun project,” Shumaker said. “General Shu is small and intimate. Frankly, outside of the pandemic — when takeout was a commodity — the concept was just too ambitious.”

Shumaker said it was not an easy decision to close the Chinese restaurant, but one that ultimately had to me made.

“It’s sad for us,” Shumaker said. “But we’re pressed too thin, and we can’t spread ourselves any further. We’re looking forward to focusing on ShuBrew”

The owners praised the current staff and said a vast majority of the staff would be offered jobs at ShuBrew.

The Shumakers said they are planning to offer some of General Shu’s more popular dishes, such as the Hawaiian Fried Rice, Crab Rangoon Dip and Reuben Egg Rolls at ShuBrew.

Shu Brew also will honor all General Shu’s gift cards, according to the owners.