KIRKSVILLE, MO -- The Uptown Cafe closed its doors Friday for the last time.

Brenda Sewell, the owner of the Uptown Cafe in downtown Kirksville, made the final decision Sept. 29 to close the doors that have been open since February 1989.

With the economy going down hill, she thought that it would be best to retire and close the cafe.

She said that the best part about being the owner was meeting all of the different people. She had all sorts of customers walk through the doors and she never knew who would walk in next.

Sewell said, "I would like to tell everyone thank you for patronizing for 30 years. They've been through all the bad times and good times with me. I appreciate it and if it weren't for them, I don't know what I would have done."

Sewell said she does not know what to do with the building as of yet. She does not know if she will sell the cafe or have an auction.

She says the hardest part for her about this decision is wondering where all of her customers are going to go. She said she will miss everyone and does not know what she is going to do with herself during retirement.