For many Bristol diners, Shanghai Chinese restaurant has been more than a place to order a favorite meal.

After approximately 30 years in business, the Bristol, Virginia, restaurant is preparing to close, according to WJHL.

Owners Ying and Xian Chen have expressed appreciation for the support their customers have shown over the years.

The restaurant has also been planning a special community celebration as part of its farewell.

Restaurants with decades of history often become places where regular customers mark family occasions, meet friends and recognize familiar faces.

That makes the closing of a longtime neighborhood business a community story as well as a change in the local dining landscape.

Readers who want to visit before the restaurant closes should confirm its final service dates and any celebration details directly with the business.

For the community, the lasting story is the relationship the owners built with customers over many years.

Tri-Cities Daily will continue tracking notable restaurant openings and closings across both sides of the state line.