A popular lunch spot near Huntsville Hospital is closing its doors for good this week.

Little Paul's Barbecue shut down today after 15 years of business on 815 Madison St. S.E. Danielle Sanford, who owns the eatery with her husband Sen. Paul Sanford, said they announced the closure Sunday afternoon to employees.

"When we originally opened it, we didn't think we would do it forever," she said. "We wanted to do other concepts and pursue other things, but this takes a lot of time and we haven't been able to do that. We've watched our kids grow up and leave and this is like the third child that's never going to grow up. And we're kind of ready to be empty nesters."

Sanford expects the news to be "a little shocking" for Little Paul's customers who have been regulars at the Medical District restaurant.

"We've had a special relationship and we've gotten to know them over the years and it's been wonderful," she said. "We've made a lot of friends and met a lot of great people."

Sanford isn't sure what the future holds for the building. She said they have 30 days to vacate the facility, which is owned by Sonny and Dianne Hollingsworth and filled with memorabilia from her husband's late grandmother.

She said the community may "see us again in something else."

"We're just ready to open a new chapter and in order to do that, we have to close this one," she said. "But it's nice being able to close something on your own terms because you want to and not because you have to."

Paul Sanford was appointed to the Alabama Small Business Commission in 2014 because of his experience as a small business owner. The Commission was created to encourage innovation and promote policies to help new and expanding business with 50 or fewer employees.

The Republican senator, who plans to continue his work in the Alabama Senate, posted a press release about the closure on the front door of Little Paul's.

"Danielle and I will take some well deserved time off, reflect on the past 15 years, and then forge a new path and see where that leads," he said in a statement. "I am certain that regardless of the endeavor we pursue, Huntsville will be just as supportive as they have been with Little Paul's Barbecue."