BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - A long time Bakersfield eatery has shut down , leaving many customers asking what happened.

The building has a long history dating back to when it was an actual ice house. In recent years it has been a steak house.

The Sizzler restaurant inside the historic Ice House is closed its doors on Monday and many customers didn't get the memo.

The doors were locked with a flyer on the door telling customers to visit their other location on Real Road and their opening soon location on Mt. Vernon Avenue.

"I'm pretty disappointed, I showed up to have lunch with some friends and was surprised they were closed," said Nicolas Patino, a restaurant patron

Literally dozens of hungry customer all found out the same way that the restaurant was closed, as they tried to open the door and it was locked.

There was also an employee in the parking lot verbally telling customers the restaurant was closed and they were sorry for the inconvenience.

Restaurant officials told 23 ABC that the closing has nothing to do with the economy and everything to due with their lease negotiations with the building management.

In a press release issued to 23 ABC, corporate officials said;
"The move of operations from the Ice House location is due to the lease expiring in 2013. Sizzler is grateful to the many loyal guests and the community for supporting the Ice House location for so many years.

We welcome the community to visit the two locations in Bakersfield: Real Road and opening mid-October at Mt. Vernon. The Sizzler on Real Road is also scheduled to receive the Extreme New Generation remodel in the near future ."

The press release went on to talk about Sizzler's future plans for their new concept locations in Bakersfield.

"The first New Generation Sizzler of its kind in Bakersfield will debut the middle of October on Mt. Vernon Avenue. The New Generation Sizzler will attract and appeal to all generations with its New Gen interior, attractive dining areas, big screen TVs , new demonstration salad bar ; fresh, hand-tossed signature salads , life-style graphics, action murals, outdoor mesquite BBQ grilling up fresh cut tri-tip, an all new gen exterior and the very best ," according to the press release.

"Sizzler's New Gen Hospitable staff who are fired-up and ready to serve . On Monday, Sizzler moved its operations from the popular and historic Ice House at 3401 Chester Avenue to its location at 900 Real Road and the soon-to-open New Generation Sizzler at 2650 Mt. Vernon Avenue ," the press release said.


Building management at the Ice House said that they have three up-scale restaurants interested in the location and will make the final decision soon.