Taiwan Restaurant, a 42-year-old restaurant at University and Shattuck Avenues in downtown Berkeley, is closing down at the end of the year.

The first restaurant in the city to serve Taiwanese fare (or “distinctive Chinese cuisine,” according to the wording on the building’s unique purplish facade), the old-school eatery has boasted the same chef since opening in the early ’70s. According to the East Bay Express, owners said that they were unable to secure a long-term lease with their new landlords, Gordon Commercial Real Estate Services, which bought the property last year. Per a LoopNet listing, the building is being poised for a major renovation that could result in a 4,000 square foot restaurant space with backdoor patio.

Gordon Commercial’s John Gordon declined to comment much beyond the fact that the property was currently for lease.

“It was their decision to leave, and ultimately it was more of a real estate thing: the building is pretty dilapidated, it’s in really bad shape and needs a lot of work,” he said. “Downtown Berkeley is changing.”

Taiwan Restaurant: 2071 University Ave., Berkeley, (510) 845-1456, taiwanrestaurant.com.