An institution in Saskatoon’s restaurant scene will close its doors late next month.

Station Place has occupied the former railway station at 221 Idylwyld Dr. N., since it was opened by the Arvanitis brothers in 1984.

On Monday, co-owner Stavros Arvanitis confirmed to 650 CKOM that the restaurant would close its doors effective June 27.

“First of all, it’s a retirement, because we’re old,” he said with a laugh, noting he and his brothers opened their first restaurant in Saskatoon in the ’60s.

He said he has been blown away by the number of longtime customers sharing fond memories since the brothers announced the restaurant would close.

“There is no better feeling than that,” Arvanitis said. “When you make people happy, there’s nothing better in the world, you know?”

Arvanitis also thanked the many employees who helped build his businesses.

“You meet so many great people,” he said. “We had a lady leave us two or three years ago, she was with us for 42 years. Our chef here has been here for 35 (years), we have some other people 10, 15 (years) — so we’re fortunate, lucky.”

Arvanitis said the owners sold the business to the Winnipeg-based Old Spaghetti Factory restaurant chain.

Gift cards to Station Place will need to be redeemed by June 26.