Artesians were shocked Monday afternoon to find themselves saying an abrupt and unexpected goodbye to a mainstay in the local restaurant community.

Around 5 p.m. Monday, a post appeared on Pecos Diamond Steakhouses’s Facebook page, alerting patrons to the fact that the eatery would be closing, effective immediately.

“We are very sad to have to announce that as of today we are no longer in business,” the post read. “We have loved serving you all for all these years and will miss you all dearly.”

Expressions of dismay were plentiful and immediate, with some residents begging for the recipe for the restaurant’s popular catfish and tartar sauce and others reflecting on times spent over lunch or dinner with family and friends. Many others fondly remembered Pecos Diamond’s longtime hostess, Phyllis Reese, who passed away in 2021.

“I have fond memories of going to Pecos Diamond when I was younger and being so excited to get to watch the flames in the kitchen or fill my own plate at the salad bar,” said Laura Holder. “And with Phyllis at the front desk, you were always sure to leave with a smile.”

“The staff was always polite and courteous to me,” noted Bert Young, while Audrey Sanchez recalled the restaurant and its staff’s commitment to …

… the community. “I’m grateful Pecos Diamond allowed my daughter and other Girl Scouts to have a cookie booth there,” Sanchez said. “They treated her wonderfully. They patiently helped improve her marketing skills. We enjoyed our meals after the cookie booth, too! Everyone was incredibly kind.”

Pecos Diamond responded to several queries from customers regarding the reason for the closure, stating that the restaurant had been for sale for some time with no buyer interest, and after the air conditioning recently stopped working, it was determined that investing any more capital into the business would not be prudent.

The Daily Press has reached out to the restaurant for a statement and will update with additional information on the closure and the building as it becomes available.