WITZ RESTAURANT CLOSING ITS DOORS

EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU, Ill. -- Witz Village Bar-B-Que and Restaurant is closing this weekend.

Betty Colyer and her husband, William M. "Witz" Colyer, opened the family restaurant in March 1982. During the past 13 years, the restaurant has become renown for its home-style cooking.

"My husband retired in 1991," said Colyer. "I have decided to become semi-retired."

The Colyers, however, will continue to offer some special catering services and accept special orders for their homemade pies.

The restaurant will close for good at 2 p.m. Sunday.

"It's with some regret that we're closing," said Mrs. Witz Tuesday. "We've developed a lot of friendships over the past 13 years. Our customers have become like family and friends: Many of them have eaten here since we opened in 1982."

The restaurant has remained open six days a week, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays for 13 years, 9 months and 22 days, serving breakfast from 6 to 11 a.m. and lunch and dinner the rest of the day.

The restaurant has been a family restaurant during its operation, noted Mrs. Colyer.

Over the years, the Colyers and their three daughters were instrumental in the operation of the restaurant. Mrs. Colyer's mother, Willie Stroud, also joined the restaurant on opening day and was there almost a decade before her death in April 1992.

The regular menu at the restaurant included country-fried chicken, steaks, barbecue, chicken and dumplings, liver and onions, beef and noodles, and chicken-pot pie, with a varied selection of vegetables.

One of the big attractions at the restaurant was the "pie board," which lists the homemade pies, cobblers and bread pudding available each day.

"Many customers ordered their dessert before they ordered dinner," she said. "Some even called ahead to reserve their favorite desserts."

Colyer said she has been fortunate over the years to have good employees and a good clientele.

A new sign goes on the door Sunday afternoon: "For Sale."