Evans Fine Foods recently announced it would be closing after 70 years in business.

Higher rents were reportedly to blame for the decision. The restaurant’s last day was Nov. 21.

According to an archived version of the company’s website, the restaurant was opened by three brothers – John, Tom and Herb Evans – in the summer of 1946. They sold the diner in 1982 to “two hard-working Greek men”  Spyros Kontoes and Pete Costarides. They retained the original menu and expanded it a bit.

In 1993, the restaurant was taken over by Pete and Mike Kontoes, according to the website. They also brought in a third partner, Nehemiah Carzell

“In 1978, Evans Fine Foods was one of the first places to serve a chicken filet sandwich,” the website says. “We went one step further, smothering the filet with chicken gravy and called it the Smothered Chicken. The restaurant serves fresh vegetables, homemade desserts, and for breakfast serves the world’s best pancakes that you can eat without syrup.”

Reader Chris Billingsley dropped by on the last day and sent in these photos:

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Photo by reader Chris Billingsley.

Photo by reader Chris Billingsley.

Photo by reader Chris Billingsley.

Photo by reader Chris Billingsley.

Photo by reader Chris Billingsley.

Photo by reader Chris Billingsley.

Photo by reader Chris Billingsley.

Photo by reader Chris Billingsley.

Photo by reader Chris Billingsley.

Photo by reader Chris Billingsley.

Most will recognize this lady, as well as the guy in the back, as longtime Evans employees. Photo by reader Chris Billingsley

Longtime cashier and wife of the owner. Photo by reader Chris Billingsley

Miko, the chef, and I use to play ball at the Rec Center back in the late Seventies. He’s worked at Evans throughout. Photo by reader Chris Billingsley

Nice prices! Photo by reader Chris Billingsley

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