Mystery surrounds the closure of a shop and a spa and cafe in Brighton.

Spa and cafe Aloka, in East Street in Brighton, closed its doors today while the owners of party supplier Magic in St James’s Street have whitewashed its windows.

The owners of Magic did not return the Argus’s calls yesterday but a notice in the shop window of Aloka, which employs 12 people, compared closing its doors to the same way autumn is a “ritual that nature adheres to”.

It said this allows for “more vibrant, strong and healthy leaves to grow the following year”.

The parent company Aura Soma Products, based in Lincolnshire, filed accounts for the year ending May 31, 2011, showing profit before tax of £563,060 on a turnover of £6.9 million.

Mike Booth, chairman of the parent company, in the notice added that he was planning to open a new spa in the city but he was tight-lipped on where it will be and when it was to open.

The notice in the shop window reads: “We would like to thank all of our staff and loyal customers for a truly rewarding and enjoyable three years.

“We look forward to paving the way of our future for the Aloka Spa concept and will be sure to keep |you updated as the plans progress.

“As we watch the leaves turn from green to yellow and slowly make their way to the ground, we can’t help but feel a little synchronous here at Aloka.

“Just as autumn is a lovely annual ritual that nature adheres to, to allow for more vibrant, strong and healthy leaves to grow the following year, it is time for Aloka to close one door of her Brighton home to allow for another door to open in the near future.”