MARION, IL (WSIL) � It's a new chapter for 17th Street Barbecue. On Tuesday, owner Amy Mills announced they are closing their Marion location.
"Closing this Marion location was a very emotional decision,� said Mills.
As a restaurant owner closing for good is rarely an easy decision, but in the case of the owner of 17 Street Barbecue in Marion it's one that had to be made.
"The restaurant has never really recovered from staffing issues after COVID,� said Mills.
Mills announced Tuesday that their 17th Street location in Marion would shut down.
“This restaurant opened in December 2004,� said Mills. “We were one of the first properties developed on the hill and we really enjoyed some booming years until 2020.�
That's when the COVID pandemic hit and Mills says the Marion location would typically welcome as many as 250 guests using a 65-person staff.
But since COVID Mills says the staffing has been a fraction of that number
"We've never had more than 35 staff members since COVID and right now we've had 28," said Mills.
Like many other restaurants, 17th Street was forced to close down because of the global pandemic.
"As a business owner shutting down for two months was very difficult. Some of our staff stayed but others in the hospitality industry across the nation went to other industries.
Mills says the lack of staffing caused issues with keeping regular hours leaving many confused about when the restaurant was open.
"Our staff is very overworked,� said Mills. “This was really an untenable situation."
The closing of the Marion store does not affect their location in Murphysboro as Mills says it's still thriving.
"Our Murphysboro location is celebrating its 38th year in business and we're doing very well there,� said Mills.
Although Mills says closing their 17th Street location in Marion was a financial decision, she understands the overall impact of the closing.
"The people aspect is what makes it so emotional and so difficult,� said Mills.
