POCA, W.Va. -- After providing the Advantage Valley area with fine French cuisine for 25 years, Wellington's of Scarlet Oaks will be closing its doors on March 27.

Tom Grant, owner of the restaurant and catering business, said Wellington's fell on hard times following the national economic meltdown in the fall of 2008. Since then, Grant said the business has been losing money steadily. He estimates sales are down more than 35 percent.

The decision to close its doors came after Christmas 2009, which was their worst holiday sales ever. The restaurant, located in the Scarlet Oaks County Club in Poca, W.Va., will be taken over by the country club.

Grant said the restaurant could survive for another six months to a year but his savings would be drained and he'd owe money. He felt it'd be better to close his business "the right way."

"Instead of going bankrupt, we want to make sure we pay our vendors and our employees," Grant said.

Due to the closing, Grant said he's had to call and cancel more than 50 party reservations, including wedding receptions. All deposits were returned, he said.

The responses from those he's called to break the bad news, Grant said, have been amazing.

"I was expecting to get yelled at," Grant joked, "but I haven't gotten any negative responses."

Grant added, "They are more concerned about us than their parties."

To help ease the cancellations, Grant made suggestions on what other restaurants could host their parties. Grant's also making calls on behalf of the 30 full-time and 10 part-time staff at the restaurant that will lose their jobs. Before the restaurant closes, Grant said he wants to make sure his employees have jobs and are taken care of.

His business partner, David Frazier and head chef, Ricky Lowe, plan on starting a catering business. The catering business will continue to serve French food to area businesses. Grant said he'll help them get the business off the ground but will not be invested in it.

After working in restaurants for 38 years, Grant, along with his wife Barbara, will be retiring.

"We've had a lot of great customers over the years," Grant said. "Thank you."

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