Popular Colorado Springs diner closes due to lack of sales during COVID-19

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - The Boulder Street Diner made the swift decision to close its doors at the end of business Saturday, in an effort to shut down before reaching bankruptcy due to a lack of customers since COVID-19 hit Colorado.

Formerly Jill's Kitchen, the Boulder Street Diner has filled its booths with happy customers for years.

"My mom makes amazing pies, that's how she got started. We bought this from Jill six years ago," said co-owner Molly Conway. "We just became very popular. We were on top thinking 'man we really are killing this small business thing,' and then COVID hit."

"We don't blame anybody, it's just what it is," Jackie Conway told us.

When the state health order switched to takeout only, Molly and Jackie ran the diner themselves, hoping to salvage their business so their employees had a job to return to.

But when they were finally able to open back up for dine-in services, fifty percent capacity just didn't cut it -- since the profit margin for restaurants is so slim.

"There weren't enough people coming and eating, and then our takeout started going down, and we were losing money everyday," Molly told KRDO.

They decided to shut down before running out of money, holding out hope that someday down the line they can come back and do what they love most once again.

“We're going to bring something else back to this community that they can come and still be a part of us and our family," said Molly.

Above all, Molly and Jackie want to thank everyone who supported their restaurant -- which they said was more of a community than anything else. The two said they'll be sure to let customers know when they're back.