Sitting on his regular stool at the end of the counter inside the Clary’s Cafe on Habersham Street Thursday afternoon, Sam Bradshaw eyed the familiar menu.
For about two years the Savannah businessman has visited the restaurant in Habersham Village at least twice a week, but this visit would be his last as that Clary’s location closed its doors for the final time Thursday afternoon.
After 14 years at the location, the decision to close wasn’t easy, said Patricia Jan Wilson, who bought both the Habersham and downtown Clary’s locations in 2003.
“It’s a tough and emotional day, but it’s also a good day, too,” Wilson said. “This is not something I had to do. I’m not going under or anything like that.”
The establishment was sold to a new owner who will update the restaurant and open it under a new name, Wilson said.
The original Clary’s at 404 Abercorn St. will remain open, and many of the employees from the Habersham location will be transferred there.
“It’s not going anywhere,” Wilson said. “Clary’s is in my blood.”
For the regulars, it is tough to see the restaurant known for its variety of breakfast and lunch items leave the neighborhood.
“It’s kind of like saying goodbye to a good friend,” Bradshaw said. “Even though you know the good friend is going to be fine. It’s still, you know, it’s not in the place where you developed your relationship and saw the way things were being done.”
Although he’s never been to the Abercorn location, Bradshaw said he will start eating there.
Wilson hoped many of her other regular customers would do that same.
“A lot of the customers are very sad and disappointed and I understand that,” she said. “I thank them so much for their support. A lot of them have been supportive and promised to come see us downtown and that sort of thing.
“I just hope they do.”