WATERLOO - A long-time fixture along San Marnan Drive closed Monday amid growing economic challenges.

The Ground Round restaurant, 1425 E. San Marnan Drive, shuttered its doors because of the growing costs of doing business and because of personal family reasons, owner Jamal Kharbush said. The high price of gasoline was also a contributing factor, he said.

The restaurant opened in 1980, long before many of the current eateries that have sprung up around Crossroads as the area started booming in the 1990s. Kharbush said he bought the business in 2003. He also owns restaurants in Dubuque and Janesville, Wis.

Only the Waterloo Ground Round would be closing. Kharbush said he made the decision to close the restaurant a few days ago. He said telling the employees that the business was shutting down was the hardest thing about whole matter.

Between 25 and 30 people work there. Kharbush wasn't sure what would happen to the employees, but he didn't think they'd go to the other restaurants.

Anyone with gift certificates to the Ground Round can send them to Jamis'LLC, P.O. Box 400, Solon, Iowa 52333 for a cash refund.

Contact Josh Nelson at (319) 291-1565 or Josh.Nelson@wcfcourier.com