CINNAMINSON, NJ – With a brief announcement, brothers George and John Kyrtatas informed the public that the popular Sweetwater restaurant is set to permanently close its doors at the end of August, marking the end of their family’s long-standing presence at its location.

“Our family has proudly served this community for the past 40 years,” the closure announcement of stated. “Many of you have become more than just customers. Some of you we consider friends and even family,” the announcement, posted on August 11, noted, with Sunday, August 25 being the restaurant’s last day of operation.

As reported by Patch, the closure of Sweetwater marks the end of an era, nearly 40 years of the Kyrtatas family’s presence in the area. It all began back in 1985 when the father of the two entrepreneurs first operated the diner Hathaway’s, which made its own history in the neighborhood. However, 27 years later, George Kyrtatas, now an accomplished chef and considered one of the pioneers of Greek cuisine in the U.S., decided along with his brother John to change the business’s identity, transforming it into a modern Greek restaurant named Sweetwater.

The business successfully operated from 2012, with the only interruption being during the pandemic, from which it tried to recover. Although the Kyrtatas brothers have not provided details about the reasons for their decision, Sweetwater must now be added to a long list of dining establishments closing down in 2024.

According to his biography, George Kyrtatas is a well-known chef, having appeared on the Food Network, and he had his own show on the former Mega Cosmos, focusing on Greek cuisine.