After 22 years, the original Buddy's Grill served its last meal on Sunday.
General manager Joe Owens cited the poor economy as the reason for the sudden closure.
The family-run eatery at the northeast corner of East Grant and North Swan roads shut its doors for good at 8 p.m. Sunday.
Owens' father, Art Owens, opened Buddy's Grill in April 1989, serving fresh seafood, steaks, Angus burgers and other specialities.
A second Buddy's Grill opened in July 2008 on the southeast side, at 7385 S. Houghton Road.
That location will remain open, Joe Owens said.
"We're hopeful the restaurant continues to do well," he said.
The family did all it could to keep the first Buddy's in business, he said.
"Sometimes you have to know when to say when."
The closure affected 50 employees, Owens said.
The family has done what it could to find new jobs for its employees, he added.
The first Buddy's Grill had loyal workers and guests, he said.
It wasn't unusual for some customers to eat five to six meals a week at Buddy's, which operated more like a family than a business, Owens said.
"It's tough," he said. "We've had plenty of people that have met their wives and husbands here. Their children have come to work with us.
"It was an institution for people," he said.
Contact reporter Andrea Rivera at arivera@azstarnet.com or 807-8430.
