ASPEN — Noodles by Kenichi, located in Aspen's Fat City Plaza on Cooper Avenue, has closed for reportedly not paying rent.

That's according to Peter Fornell, the landlord of the space.

Apparently Scott Brasington, co-owner of the noodle bowl and salad eatery, posted a closed sign on the front door Friday.

The lunch spot was opened in October by Brasington and partner Bil Rieger, who also own longtime sushi restaurant Kenichi on Hopkins Avenue and Bad Billy's, a bar and restaurant on Cooper Avenue.

Fornell said his tenants didn't pay January rent and were late in December. On Jan. 29, Fornell issued a “demand for possession of the premises” notice as an official way of indicating it was time to pay up.

Noodles by Kenichi representatives responded within a couple of days and told Fornell that they were losing significant money on a daily basis.

“I've let them run along in default for the last two months,” he said. “I did not evict them. They closed. I just exercised my legal options.”

Neither Rieger nor Brasington were available for comment.

Noodles by Kenichi has a five-year lease at Fat City Plaza, located at 520 Cooper Ave., and is responsible for paying the $5,500 a month in rent.

Fornell said the space is on the market and has been shown by prospective restaurateurs who would be owner/operators.

“It will be open in short order,” he said.

Noodles by Kenichi reportedly made $150,000 in tenant improvements to the space, and the lease was signed in July.

Meanwhile, Fornell is preparing for a Macintosh store called Mac Pro Solutions to open this month in Fat City Plaza, a subgrade space that contains several storefronts.

csack@aspentimes.com