Mystic _ The Latitude 41 restaurant at Mystic Seaport closed on Sunday but will continue to operate as a banquet and catering facility through Dec. 31.

The move comes as the restaurant is scheduled to be demolished early next year to make way for a boutique hotel.

In a press release, Charles Spathakis, the president and founder of Coastal Gourmet Inc. said the COVID-19 pandemic, the economy, and prior notices that the property was scheduled for demolition in 2021 had taken a negative toll on the restaurant, leading to the decision to close. Coastal Gourmet runs the restaurant and banquet facility.

He stressed that “all booked catering events are 100% secure and the facility is still available for additional events until December 31. Latitude 41 gift cards are now redeemable at Mystic Market Kitchen & Eatery locations in Mystic, Noank and Old Saybrook but not at its Foxwoods Resort & Casino location.”

Coastal Gourmet owns and operates the Mystic Market locations.

Coastal Gourmet took over the former Seaman’s Inne Restaurant in 2009 when it signed a contract to manage all events and dining at the museum. After a refurbishment, it reopened the restaurant the following year as the Latitude 41 Restaurant and the Shipyard Tavern.

With the scheduled demolition of the restaurant originally slated for 2021, Coastal Gourmet did not renew its contract with the museum at that time. COVID-19, though, delayed the demolition and hotel project until 2023 and Latitude 41 remained open.

The release states Spathakis “is sincerely grateful to all of the hardworking dedicated staff that has worked at Latitude 41 and on the Seaport grounds for Coastal Gourmet over the years. He is especially thankful to the most current restaurant employees who forged on with a positive outlook and worked through the COVID pandemic, up until this past weekend.”