AMHERST, N.Y. (WKBW) — Scotch 'N Sirloin on Maple Road in Amherst will soon close its doors after 54 years in business, as first reported by Buffalo Business First.
Co-owners Joe Delaney and Kevin Hanlon said that May 23 will be the final day of business. He said the large restaurant model is no longer sustainable for them and that staffing issues and the cost of rent and meat are impacting them the most.
"I kind of grew up here. Lived my whole life here," Hanlon said.
Delaney said this decision is melancholy for them.
"We both talked about it for a while, especially in the last three years of COVID it's really worn us down," he said.
According to Delaney, the shutdowns during the COVID pandemic hurt them and they never fully bounced back. The closure will impact about 21 employees.
"Everything has gone up and it was time. It's tough — it was a tough decision for sure," Delaney added.
This announcement came as a shock to many. Hundreds of people have been sending their well wishes and support to Delaney and Hanlon.
"We've been getting calls from all over the country. People calling us. Ex-employees. Ex-customers that moved away calling us. It's been. you know, it's been a really great ride," Hanlon said.
It's a ride that started 44 years ago when Delaney and Hanlon first started working together. They moved up the ranks from bartenders to co-owners in 1996.
"What we've been told is that we're very unique that the two of us didn't kill each other, worked together for 44 years and we're still humans and talking to each other," Delaney said while laughing.
They've had generations of customers walk through the doors, and now they have memories they will cherish for a lifetime.
Delaney and Hanlon said they will miss the people and employees that have become friends.
When they say goodbye at the end of the month, the co-owners said the first thing that they will want to do is take a break but don't be surprised if you see them again.
"We may come back. We may not," Hanlon said.
