Ground Round restaurant in Hempfield says it will close

The Ground Round restaurant located in front of Westmoreland Mall in Hempfield will close its doors on Nov. 17, according to its general manager.

Property owners CBL Westmoreland, a subsidiary of umbrella ownership group CBL Properties, are in negotiations with another potential restaurant, according to CBL's Stacey Keating.

“Until those details are finalized, I can't give a lot of details,” Keating said.

The restaurant's impending closure was announced via a post on the restaurant's Facebook page .

“The rumor mill has been spinning for years and sadly the rumors became true,” the post reads.

General manager Meagan Merrill said she is “beyond sad” to see the restaurant go after starting there five years ago and working her way up to management.

“At the time, we weren't in the best place, but my team and I were able to turn it around,” she said in an email to the Trib. “I am honored to be a part of this family, and to be captain of the ship in our last days afloat.”

The restaurant has 30 employees, including Merrill.

“The timing of this isn't ideal by any means, as the holiday season is upon us,” she said. “But I have complete faith that each one of my employees will find something new, they will prosper, and whoever becomes their new boss will not be disappointed.”

Sarah Ceccato, 38, of Greensburg said she can remember her mother taking her to the restaurant when she was 5 years old.

In a comment on the restaurant's Facebook page, Ceccato said it is “one of the few fond things of my childhood that are left in the area. Bad and sad decision.”

Patrick Varine is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-850-2862, pvarine@tribweb.com or via Twitter @MurrysvilleStar.