World Photo by Lou Sennick Jash Baumgarder adds an egg to a meal he prepares for a customer at Sapphires Mongolian Grill on Tuesday. The cook has worked at the North Bend eating establishment for the past eight months and is one of 18 people being let go when it closes Sunday.

NORTH BEND — This Sunday, 18 people will lose their jobs when the owners of Sapphires Mongolian Grill forever shutter the buffet.

Although no reasons have been cited for the closure, the Asian eatery, located at 2470 Tremont Ave., has been under a cloud of controversy over a dangerous property above its site.

“We have a lot of loyal customers and we want to give them the opportunity to see us one more time before we have to close the doors,” said Kathie Hill, the general manager of the restaurant, as well as the business’s secretary and treasurer.

On Tuesday, it appeared to be business as usual from nearby U.S. Highway 101. By mid-afternoon, the Sapphires kitchen staff was busily preparing items for the restuarant’s buffet. The greeter seated customers as they trickled into the restaurant.

Chef Jash Baumgarder said he’d worked at the restaurant for the past eight months. Nearby seven-month employee Blake Wright chopped cilantro, while David Elbert silently sliced lamb.

Elbert said he’d just started his job there in the past couple weeks. None would discuss the impending closure of the restaurant that opened in December 2006.

Hill refused to explain why she and her husband, Eugene Hill, decided to go close the business. However, the decision to close came shortly after mediation apparently failed to bring resolution between the restaurant and Yesi Guirado, the owner of 2505 Sheridan Ave. The Hills are caught in a legal battle with Guirado, whose land has been slipping above the restaurant. Since 2007, Eugene Hill has stated that the condition of the propery has driven customers away out of concern for their well-being.

“It’s devastating. It’s very upsetting. And more importantly, I want to make sure that the employees that are with me now are taken care of. They’re all wonderful people,” Kathie Hill said Tuesday.

She added that the restaurant will continue to serve this weekend until it runs out of food.

The restaurant’s staff, which includes servers, bussers and cooks, were told of the closure on  Monday. According to a press release from the business announcing the closure, the Hills requested that area employers consider hiring the grill’s employees.

“I would recommend every one of them for hire,” the press release said. “We will never forget the loyalty and support they gave us during this very difficult and trying time.”

At this point, there are no set plans for what will be done with the business and building, Kathie Hill said.

 “We’re holding our heads high and doing the best we can for this last week.”