Crowds of local diners flocked to sample beloved dishes like the Pecan Grilled Chicken at The Village Café one last time last Saturday night, because when the doors closed at the end of the evening, they would not open again.

The restaurant, which opened in the Banks Crossing Shopping Center in 1990 in the location that would later house the Coba Mexican Grill, had found a faithful following throughout their 18 years as a popular lunch stop and all around fine dining experience. The lease on the building was up this summer, though, and Tom Shaver, owner since 2005, had decided several months ago not to renew.

“We had looked into moving, but with the current state of the economy — we’re dealing with the same cost issues that everyone else is — it was really kind of a perfect storm right now,” said Shaver. “Our business level hasn’t been growing, the food prices keep going up faster than we could raise our prices and we were already on the luxury side.”

The Village Café has been a destination restaurant in Fayette County, one that has hosted rehearsal dinners, birthday parties, graduation celebrations and social events for churches and other organizations throughout the years. The restaurant has also featured live entertainment on the weekends, and their final night was no exception as Michael Reid performed a variety of favorites on Saturday with his guitar.

Since the announcement came down, many local residents visited The Village Café one last time to be sure to enjoy their favorite dishes again. While the Pecan Grilled Chicken is famous around the county, Shaver stated that the Salmon Maison was another popular dish. Both meals have been on the menu since the doors opened. The restaurant also saw many people call in take-out orders for some of the desserts, including the Mocha Almond Ice Cream Pie, so that the treat could be enjoyed for a few more weeks this summer.

While the food has always been a main attraction to the restaurant, the service has been consistent and consistently good. Two of The Village Café’s staff members have been with the establishment since the first year, and Shaver, who has spent a lifetime in the hospitality industry, noted that turnover at the restaurant was lower than most.

“We have a very stable kitchen crew,” said Shaver. “The chef that was here before I got here is still here. Continuity is important. People like consistency.”

The Village Café employed 30 people, both part-time and full-time.

Shaver admitted that the final dinner service would be bittersweet. The Village Café holds special memories for him as both of his sons had their wedding rehearsal dinners at the restaurant. Shaver added that he would miss the customers the most.

“I am not a chef, so my job was to deal with the public, which is the fun part of the business. It’s a challenge, too, but when they are happy, they let you know and that is a reward,” said Shaver. “Our guests are the best.”

Next week, there will be an auction sale of the restaurant equipment and furnishings. The auction will take place at the restaurant at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 8. After that, much of what made The Village Café what it was will be gone.

There are many vacant storefronts in Fayetteville these days, but now, so soon after the doors have closed on one of the city’s oldest fine dining establishments, the absence of The Village Café feels like it may sting more than others.