PITTSTON -- Cooper's Seafood in Pittston is changing. The Cooper family operated the restaurant on Kennedy Boulevard for more than 25 years, but now, they want to do a little less work.
“It won't be as intense as running a seven-day-a-week restaurant,” said Paul Cooper, a co-owner.
The place in Pittston sits right on the waterfront. This Sunday will be its last day as a restaurant. After that, it will do catering and host events such as corporate breakfasts and lunches, weddings, and other private parties.
“We have such a growth in our catering department, it's probably one of the best parts in our business that's driving our sales,” Cooper said.
The closing of the restaurant is taking a lot people by surprise.
“Wow, that's kinda sad, don't ya think? Because now you just can't go in there and have exquisite seafood anymore!" said a man in Pittston.
Pittston leaders say Cooper's new banquet hall concept will be a great addition to the city.
“Anytime we need to accommodate more than maybe 100, 150 people, we have to move outside of Pittston to accommodate those events, so we're so excited to have somebody in Pittston, right downtown, who can accommodate events of that size,” said Michelle Mikitish of the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce.
The Coopers are also looking to sell the building. The asking price: $900,000. Still, the family says they're not in a hurry to let it go.
“People in Pittston, they really are wonderful people. I mean that from the bottom of my heart,” Cooper said.