The Charlestown Cafe closed its doors on Sunday April 3 for the last time amid toasts and tears from employees losing their jobs and former employees back to say farewell one last time.

Using sauce cups as champagne glasses General Manager Hesper Guerra toasted everyone as she cried, "We love everybody and I hope you find somewhere good, and let me know where it is. Thank you West Seattle!"

Guerra continued, "I'm more concerned for the community and my staff right now. I'm not worried about myself right now, I'll be o.k. A new door will open. It's just hard to see the end of this. I was just a young girl when this started so it's hard."

As the West Seattle Herald previously reported the Charlestown just ran out of money, and the conditions needed to keep going.

Owner Ron Hanlon said, "This has been an incredibly hard day today. Too many people, too many friends, and it's over." For Hanlon he's schedule knee surgery in two weeks, though he plans on doing a lot of cleaning between now and then. He's extremely grateful to West Seattle. "They latched on and we became friends and I was able to take care of them for 32 years. Great support, great support."

A customer for over 20 years Deacon Dean Hard of the First Lutheran Church said, "I'm going to miss it terribly. It's a real family restaurant and it's been something that has been a real important part of my whole workday.Breakfast every morning here and lunch almost every day. So I've gotten to know the staff very well, and seen a lot of them grow up.(...) They always greet you by name, it makes you feel a part of this larger family. I'm going to miss it a lot."

The staff gathered for one final "team photo" on the deck in front and then served the remaining customers as others still tried to get in for one final meal before the Charlestown was gone.