A BELOVED sandwich shop has waved a final goodbye to its loving customers as fans sent the restaurant off with a gracious tribute.
The New York City dining location closed after nearly 40 years in business.
The Starlight Deli, a restaurant at the epicenter of Broadway's bright lights, closed as the owners announced their retirement.
The deli shop was famous for their quick sandwiches and their proximity to New York's finest shows.
The deli's owners are closing shop as they venture into their retirement.
Starlight Deli owners, Jung Min and Jahee Kim, received a send-off from Broadway talent as they finally shuttered their doors.
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Cast members from numerous shows sang Roy Rogers' "Happy Trails" to the couple before the final bow.
Broadway performer Preston Mui (@PrestoMagic) posted a now-viral TikTok video of the chorus.
Performers collected over 300 donations for the couple and handed Min and Kim a retirement gift of $17,839.
"I was shocked," Kim said to NBC News, talking about the performance.
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"I thought it was going to be just a few people coming to say something, but it was a huge crowd.
"My heart became heavy. I was so overwhelmed. I was so thankful."
Min said he was grateful for the Broadway actors who constantly came through his doors.
"The best thing about owning Starlite was having a good relationship with the community," Min said.
OTHER RESTAURANT CLOSURES
Many other restaurants have closed locations with less fanfare.
The pandemic upended the restaurant industry as many struggled to adapt to new societal changes.
The changes impacted small restaurants and large chains alike.
Burger King announced it would close 300 to 400 stores this year as the fast-food chain aims to lessen its footprint.
McDonald's also announced that it would be closing field offices as it attempts to nationalize its approach.
The company just closed locations in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Belleville, Illinois.
MORE CLOSINGS
The retail sector was similarly slammed by pandemic changes.
Retail "category killers" - stores that offered specialized products in medium footprint locations - lost profits as customers turned to online retailers with wider offerings.
Bed Bath and Beyond, David's Bridal and Christmas Tree Shop (CTS) are a few brands that filed for bankruptcy in the past two months.
Bed Bath and Beyond said that all store locations will shutter by the end of June.
David's Bridal and CTS said that the Chapter 11 proceedings will reorganize company debts.
They are both seeking a buyer to relieve their assets.
Read More on The US Sun
The U.S. Sun covers another iconic restaurant that recently closed.
Also, we report on ways to save customers money - here is an automatic surcharge that customers should know before returning unwanted clothes.
