A staple restaurant in downtown Hattiesburg that has been open since 1923 is closing its doors, the owners announced on Monday.
Coney Island Cafe is known for its breakfast, plate lunches and chili dogs, and the diner has fed University of Southern Mississippi students, athletes, celebrities and visitors at their North Main Street spot for more than a century.
The restaurant is closing, in part, due to rising food costs that "have hurt us over time and led us to this point," according to a Facebook post. The final day of business will be Friday, Feb. 28.
"We are gonna miss every one of you," the post said. "We love you, Hattiesburg!"
The announcement came as a shock to regulars, who are flooding social media with tributes to Coney Island.
"Best chili burgers and dogs ever," one customer wrote. "Once they are gone you probably won't taste another one like it ever again."
Others chimed in to say they hoped a buyer would acquire the restaurant, but retain staff and keep everything the same.
Many say they will stop by to eat there one last time to celebrate "the end of an era," as the restaurant put it.
Hattiesburg, known as the Hub City, is about an hour-and-a-half drive from New Orleans.