Iconic family-owned Italian restaurant is closing after 90 years - and no one knows why

After 91 years, an iconic Italian-American restaurant is closing its doors this month.

The family-owned Hollywood Restaurant was opened by Dan and Rose Cecora in 1933 - during the Great Depression .

In 1966, their daughter Bridget and her husband Joe Colella took over and then later their son Joe Colella Jr took the helm - the third generation of the family to run it.

The announcement it will close for good on June 29 was made on Hollywood's Facebook page - where owners and staff thanked their 'wonderful customers, friends, and the community for their support.

In return, locals gushed with praise about the restaurant in Auburn, in upstate New York.

'A favorite childhood Christmas memory will always be the animated elves in the restaurant windows,' wrote David Contiguglia.  'Thanks for serving Auburn for so many decades.'

Cassandra Schramm wrote: 'This breaks my heart. I've been going 33 years. An amazing restaurant that filled those with food and love.'

And Patrick Chiarilli recalled: 'We recently celebrated our 50th Anniversary with friends and family in your dining room. Delicious.'

Kay Reilly added: 'My favorite place for a birthday dinner for as long as I can remember!'

Some named their favorite server - with one called Jeannie popping up.

Ellen Holland said: 'From my brother working there in the 80s, to 3 sibling rehearsal dinners, to countless family dinners,

'Jeannie was my favorite server who also became godmother of my niece Cassandra,

She recalled her first experience with escargot - with the ENTIRE RESTAURANT seeing me run to the bathroom and hearing the escargot come right back up.'

She did pont out: 'it was a texture thing, not taste. They were delicious going down.'

The Hollywood's Facebook post , dated June 2, read: 'We are at the end of a multi-generational journey.

'Untold numbers of whole families and others have been employed here. Friendships, marriages, and thousands of family events have revolved around our dining room floors.

'These things are a source of pride and happiness for us all. Also, it is a part of our sadness as well. We will miss all of it but are looking forward to the next chapters of our lives.'

The family gave few clues as to the reason for the closure. Small chains and independent restaurants like Hollywood have been shuttering at pace over the past year.

Many are struggling with the aftershocks of the pandemic, which caused labor issues, inflation and a change to how Americans eat out.

The message said: 'We wish you all well and would like to share that our friends and family wish us well also.

'We want everyone to know that our health is relatively good and the restaurant is not going on the market anytime soon.'