After 60 years of business, the Student Prince closes it's doors
It was a popular musical and film, and it's also been a staple business for the past 60 years.
But today was the last showing as the curtain closes for for Macomb's Student Prince.
"It's pretty sad it really is I come here a lot," said Peg Foulk, regular restaurant customer.
73 year old Peg Foulk has been coming to the Student Prince since it opened in 1948. After 60 years of business, this historic Macomb restaurant has been 86'd.
"it all started a few years ago, one thing after another, it just seems like it got worse and worse. It's time to give I think for me," said Steve Peck.
Co-owner and manager Steve Peck has a laundry list of reasons why.
From rising food and labor costs to problems with the lease and this year's no smoking ban, but he mostly attributes the slumping economy.
Peck said business especially slowed this summer when fuel prices skyrocketed. It picked up since prices dropped, but not enough to make difference.
Peck says he's lost about $60,000 in net sales this year alone. In a last attempt to save the restaurant, renovations were made. Even Ice cream was added to the menu this summer, but that failed. After 9 years of ownership Peck hates to see it go.
"Not only do I manage the place. But I mean I've cooked many hours in there, a couple years in a row me and a friend of mine were the only one's cookin. It just breaks my heart to see it have to close," said Peck.
If an interested buyer appears the Student Prince could re-open.
This would be good news to regulars like Mrs. Foulk, says she has a lot of good memories and doesn't know where she'll go now.
"What are you going to do now?" Asked Justen Arnold
"I don't know, cause there isn't any other restaurant like this in Macomb," said Foulk.
Hopefully this will be just a bump in the road and not last call for the Student Prince, so Mrs. Foulk and others like her can still enjoy their favorite dishes.
The student prince served its last dish Sunday afternoon, closing at 3 P-M.
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