JERSEY CITY - Less than 24-hours after it was reported one of the state's hottest wedding venues is slated to close next month, the waterfront restaurant is abruptly closing its doors this evening.

Battello, located in the Newport section of Jersey City, was expected to close for routine pier repairs on Sept. 15. Instead the pier is slated to be chained off Thursday evening.

In a statement, Newport Marine Holdings - the landlord of the popular Downtown dining spot - said in order to ensure the "longevity" of the pier, it would need to close immediately.

"To ensure the longevity of this pier and based on recent and routine engineering inspections, our engineers have been continuously monitoring the pier's condition since June," the statement reads. "As a result of the latest monitoring data, all access to the pier must be restricted effective immediately."

On Wednesday, The Jersey Journal reported Battello was informed in May that the landlord needed to close the patio and parking area because parts of the pier were "not deemed secure."

Records show Newport Marine Holdings is registered to the LeFrak's, which a spokesperson for the LLC has denied. She additionally identified herself as working for three different companies when asked about Battello's closure.

Both Jersey City's buildings department and the Department of Environmental Protection do not have records of the pier being unstable.

In a statement on its website, Battello said it was informed Thursday afternoon "all access to the pier must be restricted immediately." Battello called the news "a shocking new development in an already devastating situation."

"While we are deeply distraught, ensuring our guests and employees safety remains our number one priority," the website reads. "We have been told that further details pertaining to the need for this sudden, immediate closure will be shared with us, and we will continue to provide updates as they unfold."

As patrons walked up to the door of the restaurant at 4:30 p.m., they were greeted by a group of men, including the restaurant's owner, saying they business was closed.

"I thought it was supposed to close in September," one woman said.

"It was supposed to," one of the men replied.

Battello's closure is a devastating blow to individuals planning weddings and other events at restaurant.

Susan Small, of Edgewater, told Eyewitness News she scheduled her wedding for next spring and cried when she heard the restaurant was closing. Though her "big day" is two months after construction is expected to be complete, she didn't want to risk scrambling last minute for a new venue and said Battello has been helpful through the process.

"You have family coming in, you've sent out invitations," she told the station. "You have all these vendors to deal with."

According to the restaurant's website, Battello was expected to be closed nearly every weekend between August and November for private events. At least one of those events this weekend was expected to be a wedding.

The restaurant could not immediately comment.

Newport Marine Holdings said today's news is not in retaliation for the restaurant's closure grabbing headlines a day earlier.

Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.