It was more of a celebration of the decades of life for Nick's Roast Beef than a funeral for the beloved location in Northeast Philadelphia.
Nick's spot along Cottman Avenue closed it's doors for good Sunday night.
"I feel like a lot of times you go out of business and you just put a sign on the door and it doesn't give closure," owner Matthew Rossi told NBC10. "This place has been here way too long to not allow for that."
The owner of the eatery threw a goodbye party to mark the restaurant's nearly 54-year run. People danced, drank and enjoyed a free buffet of roast beef, of course.
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"It became like a celebration of life instead of just losing it," Rossi said as music played inside the restaurant.
"There a lot of memories here," he added.
Rossi said he was closing the location due to a proposed rent increase after the building was recently sold. He said the new lease offer was too much to keep up with for the Cottman Avenue eatery.
Business
All isn't lost. Fans of the roast beef sandwiches can still get a taste without having to leave Northeast Philly or having to track down one of Nick's food trucks.
"While our Cottman location has closed, our Woodhaven restaurant isn’t going anywhere," Nick's (Cottman) posted on its website. "We look forward to seeing you again!"
Employees from the Cottman store will be relocated to the Nick's location on Woodhaven Road in the Far Northeast, Rossi said.
Rossi also said he plans to open a new restaurant along the Neshaminy Creek in Bensalem, Bucks County by early April.
The Northeast Philly Nick's locations aren't connected to the Old Original Nick's Roast Beef in South Philadelphia and other areas.
