One of the final business owners dealing with eminent domain along RTD’s new rail line to Denver International Airport is closing shop.

Haru Yamamoto, 73, has sold his Denver Tofu business at 38th and Blake streets, after nearly 40 years in business.

“Yeah, I was just trying to continue,” said Yamamoto, who started his company with a small factory near West 64th Avenue and Federal Boulevard in 1972.

After nearly three years of talks and negotiations, Yamamoto settled with the Regional Transportation District earlier this year for his property.

He had wanted to relocate but decided to sell the business because he said RTD did not offer enough money to invest in a new property.

A new owner will continue the Denver Tofu brand, using Yamamoto’s equipment, but Yamamoto’s 13 employees will be out of jobs.

The building, which he bought in 1987, sits near a planned rail station along RTD’s East Line to the airport.

RTD has negotiated with roughly 30 businesses along the East Line, according to RTD spokesman Kevin Flynn.

Denver Tofu was the last holdout in that area, he said.

“This is a tough situation,” Flynn said. “For any property owner, an acquisition like this is going to be a roller-coaster ride.”

Yamamoto’s daughter, Lisa Yamamoto Grimsley, agreed but said his legacy of hard work should serve as inspiration for other business owners.

“This is a man who came from Japan to America with a suitcase and a dream,” she said. “He built this business from the ground up with English being his second language.”