CEDAR FALLS - After nearly five years of serving Asian food, the Gourmet Garden closed Thursday.

"It's just too much stress," owner Tom Pham said. "It's just too hard to find help here."

Pham plans to concentrate on real estate investments after shutting down the restaurant at 2915 McClain Drive near College Square mall. He will continue to run his restaurant in Charles City, which he has operated for 15 years.

Pham said he and his wife, Sarah, plan to remain in the community.

Customers visiting the Gourmet Garden on the last day of business were disappointed by the news.

"I come here weekly," said Kara Yahn of Cedar Falls. "To hear that they're closing, it was way sad."

Finding and keeping chefs who could make Asian cuisine made staying in business difficult, Pham said.

"It's just impossible to find dependable people you can train and who will stay with you," he said.

Learning the recipes and training to be a chef at the restaurant took a minimum of six months "if they are a fast learner," Pham added.

He noted chefs often found better offers.

"We just couldn't afford the higher pay they were asking," Pham said.

The Gourmet Garden also faced competition form other Asian food restaurants that split the customer base, he said.

Pham, who owns the building, said he expects to have a tenant in short order.

"I wouldn't be surprised if there's a 'coming soon' sign up outside the building next week."

While Pham said he was disappointed to close the restaurant, he looks forward to focusing his energy on another career. Pham owns several pieces of property in Waterloo and Cedar Rapids.

"For the long run, real estate is better for me than being here from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.," he said.

Contact John Molseed at (319) 291-1418 or john.molseed@wcfcourier.com.