Millennium Steak House, 1245 S. 11 St., Niles, closed its doors for good Saturday due to declining business. The restaurant had been open since December 2001. Daily Star photo/KATIE ROHMAN

The long-running Millennium Steak House restaurant in Niles closed its doors for good on Saturday due to declining business.

The restaurant had been a fixture at 1245 S. 11^th St. since the Giannakakis family opened it in December 2001.

“It was one of the hardest decisions we’ve had to make,” said Bill Giannakakis. “Not only the financial part that we put into it, but it was something that we’d been working at for 10 years. In the end, not being able to maintain it is a very sad decision, but it is one that had to be made.”

Millennium Steak House employed between 18 and 20 people depending on the time of the year.

Giannakakis said anyone who purchased Millennium Steak House gift certificates could have them exchanged for a gift certificate to the Prime Table Restaurant. The Giannakakis family also owns Prime Table, located at 1915 S. 11^th St. in Niles.

“We definitely are going to take care of our customers,” he said.

Ask for Bill or Mary Giannakakis when exchanging gift cards.

Bill said the Prime Table Restaurant is doing well.

“We are doing great business here and appreciate everyone’s support,” he said.

The Giannakakis family does not plan to reopen Millennium Steak House. The family owns the building and the property. Bill said they plan to sell the building and the property.

Bill said the Millennium Steak House was doing good business on special occasions and holidays, but business had declined during other times of the year.

“Nobody ever plans to close, but it just comes to the point when you have to make a decision,” he said. “We tried different things … spent a lot on advertising and so forth. We remodeled and changed our specials, but it didn’t work.”

Bill said all employees received their paychecks.

“We’d like to thank all our hardworking employees and customers that came throughout the years. We just can’t keep it going anymore,” Bill said.