Red Rock Restaurant on Topsail Road closing, owners cite economy and 'excessive' competition

Red Rock Restaurant and Pub on Topsail Road in St. John's is shutting its doors after more than seven years in business.

The owners broke the news on the restaurant's Facebook pageonSaturday.

Red Rockopened in June 2009, and specialized in seafood and steaks. It also frequentlyfeatured live music.

According to the post, the "current state of the Newfoundland economy" and the "excessive number of players now in the restaurant industry" were among the many factors that led to the decision to close.

"These are very emotional times - akin to mourning the loss of a much-loved family member," the owners told CBC.

"Wonderful and long-lasting relationships have been made with our customers and staff alike. The one thing I hope people take from our closure is to encourage support of locally owned and operated businesses - an essential component to a diverse and thriving economy."