A Mitchell restaurant and bar has closed its doors. Signatures at 716 N. Rowley St. shut down Sunday, a day after its final night of service, when a live band performed at the downtown bar. "We just recently made that decision," said co-owner Scott Sprang.
Sprang said about 10 employees lost their jobs. They were told of the closure during a meeting Sunday. He said while they will be provided with referrals and other assistance to help them find new jobs, no severance pay was offered.
Sprang, a Mitchell resident, said Signatures had been busy on weekends but business during the week had been slow.
"This kind of business has its peaks and valleys," he said. "It's cyclical." Sprang and his partner, Terry Haiar, an Alexandria resident, had owned Signatures for three-and-a-half years. It was formerly called Doc 'N Eddy's.
The business is up for sale and Sprang said they have been contacted by a couple of people who have expressed interest.
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"It's a very viable business," he said. Sprang said shutting it down is just part of the process of selling it. "It's part of going through the transition," he said.
Sprang said there is a chance the current ownership may decide to re-open the business -- "Anything's a possibility," he said -- but it is very unlikely. A sign advising people that the bar/restaurant is closed "indefinitely" is posted on the front door.
It's at least the second downtown bar/restaurant to close in less than a year. The Jackpot shut its doors in 2011. Another downtown bar, The Longhorn, closed but reopened at another address across the street.
