RIP Grill/Red Room (repost)

I was screwing around on Facebook last night when I spotted the news that Grill is closing down this week. Lament-filled status updates and re-posts of Grill's farewell message started popping up all over my news feed.

Within an hour, dozens of my friends and two or three news organizations had mentioned the restaurant's closing.

Scouring the comments on Grill's Facebook page revealed countless patrons sharing their memories and mourning the loss. Aside from one or two heckling assholes, it was touching and sweet.

It took a while for the news to sink in, but once it did, it hit me hard. It really feels like losing an old friend.

Teens and young adults are losing their place to go for tater tots after school or downtown shows. College kids are losing a place to chug late-night coffee and cram during their all-nighters.

The Red Room will also be closing its doors with Grill, cutting down the city's selection of places to drink and dance to goofy music.

Sure, Grill was dirty (I've spotted more than one cockroach during my lunchtime visits there), the drunken assholes weren't always so few and far between, and the food took a long damn time, but people loved that place.

People made friends there. People performed there. People hung out and drank coffee and ate tasty, greasy food.

My boyfriend took me there on our first date. We went there for dinner after seeing a movie at the Century Park 16 on the west side that closed down this year as well.

The economy hasn't been so kind to local businesses these days. We lost Smiley's Ultimate Hookah Lounge last month, and Buddy's Grill shut down one its locations in the summer. (Edit: And Kanella's announced their closing in December.)

No matter how mixed the feelings one may have about the place, it's almost always sad when landmarks close down -- especially when you have your own memories and emotions invested in it.

Grill's final business day will be Tuesday, Nov. 22 (TOMORROW) and they'll be closing at midnight on Wednesday. Everyone should go and mourn the loss with tater tots or fries with pesto and a milkshake.

EDIT: I just learned during a recent visit that the wait staff are so busy that they are refusing to make milkshakes for anyone.. Sad day.

EDIT EDIT: I just heard that they ran out of food. :c

Sources:
Tucson Sentinel
Tucson Weekly
Grill and the Red Room's Facebook pages
Bill's Facebook status