Monkey Joe's in Cary closes

The Monkey Joe's in Cary closed on Sunday, a surprise to families that had planned birthday parties and other events there.

"Is it true you are closing???? We are so very sad!!!!" wrote one Facebook fan on Sunday.

"Don't be sad. The kids who had parties [scheduled] and parents who cannot get deposits back should be sad," responded another.

According to an employee who was cleaning up the spot on Walnut Street in Cary on Wednesday afternoon, the store closed at the end of the business day on Sunday. Donna, who wouldn't give her last name, said that the Raleigh Monkey Joe's location would be calling people who have parties booked to accommodate them.

A press release from Monkey Joe's states that the business closed Sunday "due to personal reasons by the local franchise owner."

Customers with Frequent User Cards can now use their cards at the seven other Monkey Joe's locations in North Carolina in Raleigh, Fayetteville, Gastonia, Pineville, Matthews, Greensboro and Charlotte, it says.

The two businesses are franchises of a national chain and are under different ownership. Kirchhoff said that the Raleigh location will be offering Cary customers discounts and will work to reschedule their parties at the Raleigh location on Glenwood Avenue. Because the two businesses have different owners, the Raleigh location can't refund deposits.

"We're trying to help out any way that we can," Kirchhoff said. "I know this is a shock for everybody. We don't want any of the children to be upset. We're trying to fit everybody in as best we can."