COLUMBIA, S.C. — After 40 years in business, the Columbia-based restaurant Sandy's Famous Hot Dogs could be closing.
On Monday, the chain's owner Bud Sanderson told News 19 all Sandy's restaurant locations will close by the end of December, if he doesn't find a suitable buyer.
"We have had offers to buy our business, but we haven't found the right buyers yet," Sanders said. "I'm not saying it's not going to happen, but I do plan to close them up and the wife and I will retire at the end of this month."
Sanders is turning 80 next year and feels it's time to retire from the business. It's bittersweet, but he says "it's time."
"It's going to be real sad, but we have a lot of fond memories," Sanders said.
Over the years, Sandy's restaurant has won dozens of awards. Staff have also served celebrity guests and even a sitting president.
It's considered by many to be a community staple in Columbia, and, if closed, locals say it will be missed.
"It was heart breaking man, you know? ...This is like a staple in the community. A small company around here that's been around for a long time, so to see it go, it's not pleasant, but we'll make it, I guess," Danny Jones, who was eating at the Broad River location Monday, said.