MAY 25, 2023 - Sergio Castro, owner of Conosur Latin Fusion in Mills River, said the restaurant’s lease will not be renewed. They were unable to find another space in the Mills River area, so they’ve made the decision to close. (Photo credit: WLOS staff)
North Carolina Department of Transportation officials said the estimated $112.6 million project calls for the widening of N.C. 191 to four lanes and adding new bridges.

Castro, who has called Asheville home for the last 35 years, opened Conosur in 2018. He said the restaurant’s lease will not be renewed. They were unable to find another space in the Mills River area, so they’ve made the decision to shut down.

Castro said their lease was not being renewed because the road outside the restaurant is being expanded. He said he knew years ago the roadway would eventually be widened, taking away the restaurant's parking area.

SOME MILLS RIVER RESIDENTS OPPOSE NC-191 WIDENING PLAN

Castro's lease ends in July and the restaurant's final day will be June 30. Castro said that while they could have kept going on a month-to-month lease, he did not see the point in doing so.

“It’s a little sad because we’ve been open five years and it was really good, business was great, the community’s awesome,” he said.

 Mills River Creamery is also facing the loss of its parking area because of a road widening project.

The nearby Mills River Creamery is in the same boat.

While the owner declined to do an interview, she said it's uncertain what their next move will be.

 For Castro, he said he plans to take a lot of his staff with him to Asheville to open a catering business.

STORY COURTESY OF WLOS-TV13

“Close one and open the next,” he said.

North Carolina Department of Transportation officials said the estimated $112.6 million project calls for the widening of N.C. 191 to four lanes and adding new bridges.

Construction is expected to begin in July 2024. But NCDOT officials said the project does not require businesses to relocate.