The construction on U.S. 20 near New Carlisle is over, but the damage is done for a longtime staple.

Miller’s Home Café closed its doors after 58 years of business. The restaurant’s owner, George Miller, told ABC 57 that the long, frustrating construction project at the U.S. 20 underpass was a factor.

“It really hurt us,” said Miller. “When that happened, we just couldn’t recover.”

The restaurant opened in 1959 and, in addition to serving their famous chicken and noodles that kept the locals coming back, it also served memories and as a place for the community to get together over a cup of coffee.

“People when they think of New Carlisle that’s one of the first things they think of that’s Miller’s Home Café,” Bill Sutton, local business owner in New Carlisle, told ABC 57.

The U.S. 20 project slowed many businesses in the area and cut down customer traffic over 50-percent to many New Carlisle businesses. The project dragged on for months due to delays.

The property is currently for sale. As for Miller, he’s going into retirement.

• RELATED: U.S. 20 viaduct near New Carlisle re-opens