ST. LOUIS — After 60 years in business, Uncle Bill's Pancakes in south St. Louis closed Tuesday.
The 24-hour restaurant was located on South Kingshighway.
It has been a St. Louis institution for decades, with hundreds on Tuesday trying to get one last short stack of pancakes.
By noon, the doors were closed for the last time as Uncle Bill's was quickly running out of some of its signature items.
A cashier told 5 On Your Side people have driven in from places like Chicago and Jefferson City to get their last chance at Uncle Bill's.
"It's sad because it's been a pillar as long as I can remember," said LaTisha Holloway, who is a regular Uncle Bill's.
Holloway is 50 years old and said she's been coming to this south St. Louis pancake and dinner house since she was a teenager.
She said she was willing to wait in line for a table on Oct. 8 for "as long as it takes."
Holloway, who grew up in St. Louis and now lives in the Columbus Square neighborhood, said this was still her spot for her go to order of "two-two-and-two," which is two eggs, two bacon and two pancakes.
"This is one of my favorite kind of jump off places if I have things I need to do because it's quiet and it's comfortable," Holloway said. "Even as a teenager and into my adulthood I used to come here on dates. It's always been family-oriented, a safe place with good food that's affordable."
Dozens of people 5 On Your Side talked to at Uncle Bill's had their own unique story about coming to the restaurant.
That includes Uncle Bill's manager Kimberly Watson, who started here as a busser 39 years ago, eventually becoming a cashier, a server, and finally a manager.
She said she didn't realize at 15 years old she would raise three children and spend the majority of her life making people happy with their food.
"I got a home," Watson said. "It's done a lot for me."
Watson said she wishes there was a line out the door all the time.
"A lot of people came here after late nights at the bars and clubs we had a lot of wild crazy nights, days, good Sundays, church, people come on Sundays," Watson said. "It's been really nice."
Yet, Watson said the owner decided to retire.
"It hurts to see great people lose their job and just see an establishment like this go away," Holloway said. "I wish they could do something to save it."
She said though they are closing for now, the owner is selling, opening the possibility that maybe it could be a pancake house again in the future.
The Uncle Bill's location in west St. Louis County on Manchester Road will stay open.