In a sign of how the needs of travelers have changed, Little America is closing its restaurant and gift shop, citing more traffic to its travel centers as a deciding factor.
“Unfortunately, what’s happened here is we’ve had to make some tough decisions,” Spencer Riggs, general manager for the Little America property said.
The closure does not mean the entire operation west of Green River is shutting down. Riggs said business at the travel centers and hotel continues to be well and those locations will remain open. However, the restaurant and gift shop in the main building will close. Riggs said the last day for the restaurant will be Friday. It will be open for dinner and close at 10 p.m.
Riggs said few workers would be laid off, saying many are being offered similar positions at the travel centers or elsewhere within the company.
He also said there isn’t an intent to sell or close the property.
Riggs said business at the restaurant was booming at one point, but changes in what travelers wanted resulted in the restaurant seeing fewer customers. The restaurant, he said, was an icon and traditional stopping point for many families driving along either direction of the highway. However, he believes some generational differences occurring during the years and changes in how people utilize travel stops, resulted in the business decline at the restaurant.
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