A popular restaurant in Georgetown is set to close

It’s been 18 years since Mike Bryant was looking for a job, but when his restaurant Lands End in Georgetown closes Sunday, he and his 35 employees will officially be unemployed.

“Wish it didn’t have to be this way, but people just aren’t going out to eat like they used to,“ says Bryant, “Since 2007 we’ve been struggling.“

According to the Charleston Area Restaurant Association the whole industry has been challenged significantly since 2008. Numbers last fall were down about 20-30% according to Steve Kish, president of the CARA. His number are just estimates but Tom Sponseller, CEO of the Hospitality Association of South Carolina say they reflect some statewide trends.

Sponseller says geographically the coastal towns of SC are feeling the most impact from the recession. They rely heavily on business from tourists who are taking shorter vacations and spending less money.

In general the higher the price on the menu, the less people are buying. Fine dining restaurants are taking the biggest losses, followed by casual restaurants holding steady or only slightly down, and some fast food chains are actually improving.

For Lands End the news of their closing has brought in some last minute crowds looking to one last bite and one last good bye.