With upscale natural-food grocer Whole Foods Market opening its first location in Hawai'i at Kahala Mall next spring, "major improvements" are in the works to upgrade the aging retail center to complement the new tenant.

That will mean some longtime tenants, including the popular Yen King restaurant, will have to move out.

Three of the four restaurants on the mauka end of the mall, next to where Whole Foods will open, are closing.

Yen King, which has been in the mall for more than 20 years, was given notice in June that its month-to-month lease would be terminated on Oct. 31.

Ginza Kimuraya Tokyo Bakery and Cafe, which opened three years ago, opted to close on Aug. 20 rather than continue its month-to-month lease.

And I Love Country Cafe Express also plans to close up shop this year.

(The fourth restaurant, The Patisserie, hasn't decided what it will do yet. Central Pacific Bank, which operates a branch among these restaurants, has a lease through the next several years.)

Kahala Mall is looking for new tenants to fill more than 8,000 square feet of retail space by the time Whole Foods opens next year, said mall general manager Ron Yoda.

Ideally, these new tenants will complement the natural and organic chain supermarket, which emphasizes locally grown and organic produce and goods.

"Whole Foods will generate a different feel for the area," Yoda said. "When we make changes alongside (the supermarket's opening), that will definitely change the environment."

Yoda said the mall owners have been talking with potential tenants, but nothing has been decided yet.

The goal is to redevelop the area in time for the opening of Whole Foods in early 2008.

"There's been a lot of interest in that space," Yoda said. "Just the opportunity of Whole Foods opening its first store in the state here has created a lot of excitement ... We want to make sure we're making the right decision (about tenants)."

Whole Foods Market announced in May that it would take over the 26,000-square-foot space vacated by Star Market in March.

Last week, the Texas-based chain revealed plans to open stores in Kailua and Kahului, Maui, in addition to its flagship Kaka'ako store.

Richard Lam, owner of Yen King, said he had hoped to extend its lease at the mall.

In addition to a loyal customer base, Lam saw value in the restaurant's location and access to parking.

When he got the notice to vacate in 90 days, he said, he was shocked.

He's been telling his patrons about the closing — the restaurant will serve its last meal on Oct. 26 — in person.

"My customers were so sad," Lam said. "A couple of them started crying. They say it's a second home to them."

Ginza Kimuraya, which signed a three-year lease when it opened in 2004, decided to close now instead of risk being forced out, said manager Tomoko Akegarasu. The owners are looking for another location, preferably in the Kahala area.

"So many people are asking where we're going to open," Akegarasu said. "I say: 'I don't know.' "

Reach Catherine E. Toth at ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com.