A popular family-owned restaurant in Brooksville has closed its doors for good after 33 years of serving the community.

  • Family-owned restaurant closes doors
  • Lease is not being renewed
  • Owners gave free meals to veterans

The warm atmosphere is what customers say always brought them to Jersey Café in Brooksville. Now they'll have to find another place to go.

After 33 years the owners' lease isn't being renewed and they are having to close their doors.

"Hard to put into words it's kind of surreal," Joseph Cuce said.

Cuce said they got the news about the lease last month and don't have the money right now to relocate.

"I still believe that some miracle is going to take place or something is going to happen or that I am going to wake up," he said.

The owners said they're not the only ones whose lease is not being renewed, metro PCS as well as a hair salon next door will also be closing their doors.

During their time, Cuce said they've tried to do their best to give back to the community, giving free meals to veterans and offering suspended meals for those in need.

For loyal customers, it was a somber morning with many hugs as everyone said their goodbyes.

"The servers, the waitresses, they're all like family," Fred Schmitt said.

"It's home-y without having to do the cooking. We will miss them," Merry Orlando added.

While the owners say while they aren't sure what's next for them, they want to make sure all their staff are able to find jobs.

"I can't go off into the sunset knowing that they're not taken care of," Cuce said.

In a Facebook post, Cuce said the owner of the plaza wants to attract a national tenant by creating a large retail space where the cafe currently is.

Spectrum Bay News 9 reached out to the plaza owners for comment, but have not yet heard back.