WILMINGTON — After more than two years, Austin’s Casual Eatery & Bar announced it will close effective Saturday, Jan. 30, the business posted to its Facebook page.
“It is with the utmost sadness that I have to announce that Austin’s will be closing for good this week,” the post stated. “Saturday, January 30 will be our last day in business. We will be running some great specials this week daily. Make plans to come join us so we can go out with a bang. We’ve made some great friends and we would love to serve you one last time this week!”
“It’s just time for a new chapter,” Austin’s owner Steven Stovall told the News Journal. “Business really slacked off in the last six months or so.”
Along the way, he said, he’s made good friends, had a lot of fun and worked with outstanding employees.
“I loved eating down there,” said Dennis Mattingly, who said he used to eat at Austin’s weekly but recently only monthly. “I enjoyed the environment and the people down there. It was a very pleasant place to eat and chill out for a while.”
Mattingly said the restaurant business “is probably the toughest in the world” and said he was sorry to see Austin’s go.
Another post to Austin’s Facebook page said Wednesday will be the restaurant’s final college night.
Stovall, Austin’s owner and founder, said college night is open to the public and will have a DJ.
Stovall, a business professor at Wilmington College, opened Austin’s in September 2013.
Reach Nathan Kraatz at 937-382-2574, ext. 2510 or on Twitter @NathanKraatz.
