For 19 years, Billy McHale’s on 33rd Avenue West across from Alderwood mall in Lynnwood served hungry customers.
On June 28, many regulars stopped by to say farewell as the restaurant served up ribs, steaks and margaritas one last time.
“The economy got to us and sales are down,” said owner Rick Cannata. “It’s a big building with high rent.”
Cannata said he couldn’t work out a viable deal with landlord Barclay’s Realty &Management Co., the California-based owner of the building, and decided to close.
“It was a fun ride,” he said. “There were a lot of great employees and customers along the way. We’re all just very sad.” Cannata said he’ll be out looking for a job soon along with his 50 employees who were laid off.
He started working for Billy McHale’s as a manager 22 years ago and bought the Lynnwood business eight years ago. Cannata was an independent owner operator. Other Billy McHale’s restaurants are located in Bellingham, Federal Way and Renton.
The Lynnwood restaurant reopened two weeks after a kitchen fire forced it to close in October 2007.
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