The St. Joseph Hoof & Horn Steakhouse has announced it plans to closed its doors.

The restaurant located at 429 Illinois Ave announced on Facebook Friday that it plans to shutdown before the Memorial Day weekend.

It’s one of the oldest restaurants in St. Joseph, built in 1898.  According to the restaurant’s website, in 1987 the Swope family bought the steakhouse from the Millers who has owned it for over 30-years after buying the steakhouse from Joe Mallus who ran it ran it for more than 40-years after being it from his uncle.

Staff at the steakhouse said they have been trying to sell the restaurant for awhile with no luck.

“Over the last several years many things have changed and keeping up with the changes has been a real struggle. There have been several new restaurants that have opened in town with no population growth to support them all. Unfortunately for us the push for economic growth has been steered down town and out north, and we have fought hard to compete,”  Roy Swope said in a letter. “At the beginning of this year my health took a drastic turn and while I am doing better each day; it was a real eye opener for me. I have spent 30 wonderful years of my life at the Hoof and Horn. I met my wife here, raised my kids and now my grandkids here. But with the combination of the push for “chain” restaurants in town and my health; my family and I have decided it is time for us to move on.”

Roy added that it was not an easy decision to make.

“Thank you for allowing us to serve you for as long as we did,” Roy said.