After nearly four decades, The Carlton Restaurant in Downtown Pittsburgh will close.

“I offer my deepest and most heartful appreciation to the city of Pittsburgh, and the patrons who made the last 37 years so memorable,” owner Kevin Joyce said in a statement. “Our customers are our family, and we have watched so many celebrate life’s milestones around our tables.”

Joyce recognized employees, some who worked at the establishment inside the BNY Mellon Center on Grant Street for more than 30 years. He said executive chef Simon DeJohn will continue to work at Eadie’s Market & Catering, owned by Kevin Joyce Restaurants and located in the same building as The Carlton. DeJohn will also prepare The Carlton’s Heat & Serve weeknight menus that customers can order and eat at home. Executive pastry Chef Jeff Julin will make cakes, pies and pastries for Eadie’s.

Joyce plans to launch The Carlton Catering Company. He said a restaurant such as Common Plea, which was also located Downtown, transformed from dine-in to a succesfull catering business.

The Carlton Restaurant was recognized by Wine Spectator and as a Distinguished Restaurant of North America.

Joyce said The Carlton could not recover after the long closure for the pandemic.

“I am heartbroken to close the doors of a business that I — and so many others — have poured decades of my life into,” Joyce said. “Unfortunately, after 14 months of paying rent on a location I was unable to profitably reopen, it is time to say goodbye to the prospect of in-person dining at BNY Mellon.”

Joyce said what’s unique about the restaurant business is when people come in they are celebrating a special time in their life or meeting a friend they haven’t seen in a while – the good moments in life.

“Today was excruciating,” said Joyce, a Brookline native who lives in McMurray. “This has been my life’s work. I feel fortunate to have been part of the fabric of Pittsburgh.”

He said his lease was up, there are less people Downtown because of the pandemic and it was just time. He can spend time with his grandchildren. The establishment has been closed since March 2020.

“It is difficult to have a fine-dining restaurant in the city,” Joyce said. “I know I am not the only restaurant doing this. There are so many of us in the same boat.”

The restaurant will host a final wine sale and tasting event called “The Final Pour” on May 27. Restaurant artwork will be available for purchase. Tickets are $99 and can be purchased here.

He decided on the wine event to give customers and employees one more day together for a chance to say good-bye. He spent most of Wednesday having a glass of their many signature wines with employees sharing memories.

Joyce, 67, said they sold 100 tickets to the wine event in the hour after he made the announcement it was closing.

He said one customer purchased two tickets and added $500 gratuity for employees.

“That right there shows how loyal our customers are,” Joyce said. “They are part of the Carlton family and serving customers will be what I miss most.”

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