Jim Hughes, owner of a downtown Burien institution, Sal's Deli, always joked that he would die working in his restaurant.

"But after my last hospital stay, it didn't seem funny anymore," Hughes reports.

Hughes, 63, has had heart problems since his mid forties.

So with his lease up, Hughes has decided to put the deli at 15212 6th Ave. S.W. up for sale. If it is not sold soon, Hughes plans to close it down and retire by Dec. 1.

"I want to figure out who Jim is," Hughes reports.

"The last three years have really been tough," Hughes declared. "I have never worked so hard for so little."

He has no problem pinpointing the source of his personal economic downturn.

"The day ESD left, my business went down 25 percent,' Hughes said.

The Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD) was located at the present site of the Burien Town Square, about a block from Sal's. When the building was slated for demolition, PSED moved to Renton.

Hughes said he wasn't too worried because 400 condos were planned for the Town Square project. But the condos were first offered just as the housing bubble burst and only a few are occupied. The project owners are not marketing the condos to the general public at reduced prices until the first of the year.

Hughes figured 300 "living wage" jobs were lost in Burien when PSESD moved out.

"Six hundred to 700 living wage jobs have left Burien and been replaced by waiters and dishwashers," Hughes said. "Those are minimum wage employees, which is what I have been lately. I support the city but what's going on makes it very difficult."

Hughes predicts that possible annexation of White Center will seriously divide the city. He notes that he was an initial supporter of the Town Square development.

"But, unfortunately, the city put all its eggs in one basket," Hughes added.

Hughes, who graduated from St. Francis of Assisi School and Highline High School, said he might even leave Burien. He grew up in Seahurst, one of 12 siblings. He says Burien is a pretty expensive place to live, especially compared to Eastern Washington.

Describing himself as "happily divorced" and with his kids grown, Hughes said he will take some time to figure out what he wants to do next. His children gave him a laptop computer and he says he may write. He also plans to volunteer and maybe work part-time.

"Sad as it is, it feels right to me," Hughes declared. "It's hard to see the deli go but there comes a time. I've made a good living here."

Hughes thinks it is possible that another owner could make a good living from the deli. He notes that the Town Square condos and retail spaces will eventually be occupied.

Operating Sal's has always been about family, according to Hughes. "I've had 6 to 7 nieces and nephews as well as six sisters work her," he noted. "It has been a family gathering spot.

"About six months back, I looked at a table and four out of the five customers sitting there were guys I have known since first grade."

Bernard Salwitz ("Sal") opened the Burien deli in 1969. After knocking around for many years at various jobs, Hughes decided in 1980 he wanted to open a deli in north Seattle with Sal's son, Greg.

They asked Sal for a loan to set up the business and the three decided to form a three-way partnership with the Burien and North End delis.

When Sal retired in 1990, Hughes took over the Burien operation but kept its name.

Hughes has been an active volunteer in the community. In 2008, Hughes received the "Robby Award," presented by Robinson Newspapers for Hughes' commitment to community service. He won it the second year it was presented. Dick Dahlgard of Dick's Camera was the first recipient.

"It was one of the highlights of my life," Hughes noted. "I feel like I was in company I didn't deserve to be in."

Discover Burien also named Hughes as "Business Leader of the Year" in 2006.

In other developments concerning long-time Burien food establishments, the sale of the Danish Bakery in Olde Burien was announced this week. New owners are expected to take over on Oct. 15. The bakery was started in Burien in 1930.