WARREN, R.I. (WJAR) — It's been a mainstay on Main Street for nearly two decades, and now The Restaurant & Café in Warren is closing after 19 years.
"I'm really sad I love it here. We’ve been coming here at least 15 years since we moved to Barrington, and we've been coming often, come for breakfast, come for lunch, bring people for the first time," said Karen Rasnick.
"We've been coming every week since we moved here (from Florida); to hear that they're closing is very disappointing," said Mark Perryman.
The owners said their lease, up March 31, is not being renewed.
Jeff and Michele Zeller said what they'll miss most is the people.
"You see people over the years bringing in their children watching them grow up, now they're off to college, it'll be sad not seeing their future or hearing people's stories every week," said Michele.
"A lot of people you know them by what they eat; you don't always know their name but you know what they have," said Jeff.
The Zellers said they've seen so much support since news of their departure has spread.
"People coming in with lots of hugs and wishing us well, that's hard," said Michele.
The couple, who’ve been married 36 years, said at this stage of their lives they're not going to relocate the restaurant.
Instead, they've both got other jobs lined up, as do most of their staff.
They're looking at the positive side of not owning their own business and working seven days a week.
"We gotta say goodbye, kind of everything for a reason," said Jeff, who added that many of the staff who’ve worked for him over the years have been like his own children.
The Zellers said losing that daily connection to the community will take some getting used to.
"It's like not having them at your breakfast table anymore and now your breakfast table is empty,” said Michele.
“It's like losing a family member, it's never the same," said Jeff.
https://turnto10.com/news/local/warren-restaurant-set-to-serve-its-final-meals 2019-03-10 18:54:00Z
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