Today, the empty buildings once filled by Mr. Chopsticks and Uncommon Ground are expected to become part of Fry Street lore — among the first slated for demolition by a new property owner, despite protests.

DRC/Gary Payne

Mr. Chopsticks owner Numchai “Chai” Tamprateep walks through the remains of the building where his restaurant was located for 22 years while workers demolish the interior on Monday.

“It’s going to be gone, this building, tomorrow,” said Joe Normile, standing near Mr. Chopstick’s back door on Monday, holding a pipe bend he picked up from inside.

The demolition is coming as students at the University of North Texas — who for decades have been the most loyal customers of the departing businesses — go on Thanksgiving break.

Normile, who is among several property owners refusing to sell to a Houston-area developer, said he would miss the Hickory Street building that once housed a good friend’s business.

“It’s like going to a funeral,” he said.

Construction crews moved in Monday afternoon to tear down inside walls of the two vacated buildings, preparing them to be razed by a bulldozer parked nearby.

The buildings, now owned by United Equities Inc., are the first affected by the purchase earlier this year in the retail area directly across from UNT. United Equities owner Buster Freedman could not be reached for comment about the demolition on Monday.

The company’s purchase of most of the block has spurred reaction among students, alumni and residents to launch protests, an organization called Save Fry Street, and a petition drive to protect existing and historic Fry Street buildings.

DRC/Gary Payne

Mr. Chopsticks employee Camille Green posts pictures taken during her six years at the restaurant’s old building on Monday.

The demolition during the Thanksgiving holiday week was not surprising to some, said Raven Oak, an organizer with Save Fry Street. She heard about the pending demolition from a nearby business owner who spotted the arrival of the bulldozer mid-afternoon Monday.

“We talked about it in a group meeting a week and a half ago, and we all thought it would be this weekend,” she said.

Students’ departures from campus were evident Monday afternoon with few walking along the Fry Street area, which is generally packed in the afternoons and evenings as classes end.

“I thought it pretty interesting that he [Freedman] decided to do this on Thanksgiving break,” said Mike Sutton, the longtime owner of Voyager’s Dream across from the affected block, surrounded by Oak, Hickory, Fry and Welch streets.

Back in Denton after participating in a protest in Georgia, Sutton said he immediately began planning a candlelight vigil for Monday night at the former Mr. Chopsticks.

“The idea is a vigil for the death of Fry Street,” Sutton said.

Remnants of lit candles, colorful plastic flowers and a photographic ode to both businesses sat on the storefront steps — a visual commemoration of the former occupants who have relocated to other areas nearby.

Numchai Tamprateep, known as “Chai,” relocated Mr. Chopsticks to another location at 1633 Scripture St. in September after receiving an eviction notice.

While business at his new location has been good, Tamprateep said he was saddened by the pending demise of the Hickory Street building.

“Twenty-two years is a long time coming here day in and day out,” he said, walking through the crumbling drywall in piles across the floor inside the skeletal remains of his former restaurant.

“This place has been good to me from day one,” he said. “I consider this my home.”

Tamprateep said he planned to watch the bulldozer raze the restaurant, but said it would be difficult.

“I may be crying,” he said.

Posters attached to the glass entryway read “We love you Chai” and “Soon to be Starbucks,” referring to the developer’s plans to bring a coffee shop, bookstore, restaurants and other businesses to the area as part of the new development. Specific stores, however, have not been lined up, officials have said.

The Save Fry Street group acquired more than 9,000 signatures seeking preservation of Fry Street’s historic 80-year-old buildings that line a corner of the new owner’s property. The red-brick L-shaped center now houses several businesses, including The Tomato, a pizza restaurant.

“If we can’t save everything, we can at least save part of it,” Oak said, adding that protesters are being encouraged to hold up signs saying they do not want the changes to the Fry Street area.

Denton resident Chuck Voellinger said he was concerned about the timing of the city’s 150th birthday celebration when Fry Street faced the first demolitions in what some call an historic area.

“It’s just extremely sad that the city has not had the foresight with which to deal with its historic properties and seems to be absolutely unwilling to take a stand and do anything necessary to protect what’s important to thousands of Denton citizens,” Voellinger said.

City staff have said the zoning is in place for the project and they have no authority to stop the development.

Describing the sense of agitation rumbling along Fry Street on Monday, Oak asked: “If we keep knocking all the places down, how many places will be left for us to go to?”

DAWN COBB can be reached at 940-566-6879. Her e-mail address is dcobb@dentonrc.com .