After serving hungry patrons for five years, Gossip Diner in Durham closed its doors this week.

A sign on the door that reads "Business Closed ... See You at Dennys" greeted customers on Wednesday in what appears to be the end of the line for restaurants at 339 Main Street.

"Apparently the town couldn't support the restaurant," said Len Rossicone, who owns the property and says he was unable to come to new lease terms with the restaurant's owner, Sam Zuerigi.

"Let's say it was a financial decision on his side," added Rossicone, who said he'd prefered not to have a restaurant operating at the location.

Zuerigi told Patch he served as many as 1,000 customers a week since opening Gossip and is "saddened" to leave.

"Right now we're looking to relocate somewhere, a reasonable distance for our employees and our guests," said Zuerigi, who owns a Denny's restaurant in Middletown and has offered his 10 employees an opportunity to work there.

"We had some people in tears. [The customers and staff] are great people. They've been great to us."

Zuerigi, who is originally from Jordan and lives in North Haven, says he hopes to keep the restaurant's name.

The building, which has served as the home to several restaurants since opening in 1978 including Gateway, Cousins and a Japanese steakhouse, will be rennovated and become the new home of Durham Fitness, which is currently located on the opposite end of Main Street.

"I've always wanted to have my gym there," said owner Kristen Kleeman. "We're moving because we outgrew [our current] space."

Kleeman says the site will allow for more parking and more gym space.

"There's gonna be new equipment that will benefit everybody," she said.

Kleeman plans to start work on turning the diner into a workout facility within the next few weeks, a project she says should take a few months.

In the meantime, she says, gym members will continue to work out at 6 Main Street.