A Wilson staple, Bill Ellis Barbecue, suddenly closed its doors Wednesday after almost 56 years in business.

The Wilson Times was the first to report the closure, confirming that the restaurant's more than 50 employees were notified during an 8 p.m. meeting.

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Bill Ellis, the longtime owner of Bill’s, died in February 2017 after suffering complications related to a broken hip, according to family members. He was 83.

In a statement on Wednesday, Ellis' sister-in-law, Tanya Neville, wrote, “It is with much regret that we have reached a decision to close Bill’s Barbecue. Against all obstacles, we fought the good fight, but realized it’s time.”

Ellis started the business in 1963 as a tiny hot dog stand on the then outskirts of Wilson. When it grew, Ellis started his own hog farm in order to control the quality of the meat he served.

The restaurant, which stands at 3007 Downing Street, quickly became a Wilson landmark and was also well known for its catering business and pig pickin' station. Trucks shipped Bill's barbecue to vendors nationwide.

According to owners, while the restaurant is closing, there may be a possibility for franchise opportunities to keep Bill's chicken and barbecue going.

Owners did not state a specific reason for the closure.

The sudden news of the restaurant's closing sparked concern and disappointment for locals and long-time fans of Bill's barbecue. Others showed up for lunch on Thursday and were surprised by the empty parking lot.

"I saw the empty parking lot and it upset me, because I've been coming out here for 50 years, "said Bobby Lam, a long-time customer.

"We love Bill's," Joseph Rivenbark, another loyal customer, told WRAL News. "Me and my sister we usually come once a month, you know, we enjoy it. It has just been a tradition for years."

Bill's survived and rebuilt after flooding from several hurricanes, including Floyd in 1999 and Matthew in 2016.

In 1999, Ellis told WRAL News "he would rather stand his ground than open somewhere else."

Bill's is not the first barbecue restaurant to close recently. In December, Allen & Son, which opened in 1971, closed its doors in Chapel Hill.