JASPER, Ala (WIAT)– Four Jasper businesses are closing their doors, but the city says it’s optimistic new businesses will fill the spaces.

Danny’s Downtown Barbecue, Bare Bones Cargo, Susan’s Hallmark, and Robin’s Nest announced they were closing.

Danny’s Downtown Barbecue and Bare Bones Cargo are located in the downtown district. 

A Facebook post from Bare Bones Cargo says the owners are closing to pursue other business ventures.

Rita Crider, the owner of Danny’s Downtown Barbecue, says the restaurant is closing for family reasons.

Tuesday afternoon, Crider reminisced on a 15 year journey coming to an end.

“We have family concerns, family health concerns. We were just stretched too thin to continue running our business,” said the owner.

The building on 19th St may be small, but the restaurant’s impact was big.

“I hate to see any business close, especially Danny’s,” says the business owner across the street.

Robyn Waldrop with Elizabeth Garner Interiors says she walked over to Danny’s several times a week.

“It’s been a wonderful place for our downtown community for so long, just such sweet people.”

Crider collected pig figurines and each one had a special memory behind it. She showed off a wooden pig covered in customers’ signatures.

“I hope everyone remembers Danny’s Downtown Barbecue, because we loved our customers, and we had so many loyal customers, and they became our friends,” said Crider.

Jasper Mayor David O’Mary says he believes the building will be occupied soon.

“In this entertainment district, nothing stays vacant long.”

The other two businesses closing are located inside Jasper Mall.

 O’Mary says he hasn’t heard of any of the businesses closing for economic reasons, but he expressed concerns about the mall.

“I don’t think the mall will flourish under the current ownership. I come from a long banking background, and back when the mall was purchased, I feel like it was purchased for resale, and I’ve had information come to me in the last couple of weeks that solidifies my thinking, so if that’s the case, then you’re probably not going to see the mall- if it can be revitalized- be revitalized under the current ownership.”

CBS 42 reached out to the mall’s owner, Kohan Retail Group, for comment and were told to call back Wednesday.