CHARLOTTE — An iconic east Charlotte restaurant has announced it is closing its doors permanently.
Gus’ Sir Beef, located on Monroe Road, has been operating for more than 50 years and announced its closure through a Facebook post.
The restaurant was known for its fresh vegetables and home-style cooked comfort food.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce that Gus’ Sir Beef will be closing its door for good and will not reopen without a blessing from God’s hands,” the restaurant’s Facebook post read. “We will miss the opportunity to say our farewells in person and love on our many customers, family and close friends that have made Gus’ everything it was, is and will always be; a place to come home to; a place to enjoy a simple, homemade fresh meal, and a place to make new friends.”
Longtime customers say they are heartbroken that Gus’ Sir Beef is no longer open. Roger Raymer and Max Foster said they know the menu like the back of their hands after eating there while growing up.
“For me, it was (when I was) a young man and growing up on the east side, eating there in the ‘60s, ‘70s,” Raymer said.
Foster is upset to see another family-owned restaurant shut its doors.
“We’ve seen this happening with family-owned restaurants because it’s hard to get labor,” Foster said. “Prices are getting harder and harder to manage. It’s sad to see.”
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“It’s a classic diner, a staple of the city, the soul of the town. We’re losing so much of the soul of the town,” Raymer added.
The restaurant owner said an aging building and the strains from COVID-19 are factors in the closure.
“Regrettably, the rain and extreme low temperatures of late December and early January caused a sudden failure in portions of the roof decking of the restaurant and the cost to repair is above my means,” the restaurant said.
There’s no word on what might replace the restaurant.
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