The King Street pub has been a fixture in downtown Kitchener for years

A long-standing 'watering hole' in downtown Kitchener is now permanently closed.

Frankie's Pub on King Street is officially shut down, with all signage removed. It's been replaced by one that says 'For Lease'.

It's not clear what led to the closure.

In a statement, The City of Kitchener said it also isn't aware of the circumstances or what the landlord's future plans are at this point.

"From the City's perspective, our staff would be happy to help support both the landlord and any new prospective businesses. We do this through making introductions and trying to connect landlords and business owners that have mutual interests, and help them navigate permits, licensing requirements, etc."

There's also been concern that another 'downtown staple' will be closing its doors, as development signs have popped up at Caper's Sports Bar on Queen Street.

However, staff says they won't be shutting down for good and will be moving to a new location "in the next few months".