BELTON, Mo. — Wednesday was a sad day for diners in Cass County. Oden’s Restaurant, the popular family diner on Scott Avenue, abruptly closed. The move comes after more than 36 years of serving hungry customers. The final batch of down-home meals was served on Sunday. The phone at Oden’s rang off the hook Wednesday as regular customers realized this popular dining spot was out of business. Oden’s owners announced the move on their Facebook page on Tuesday night. When, where does early voting start for Kansas City, Missouri metro voters? “It was at a point where it was just a break-even point, and it wasn’t working,” Jim Oden said on Wednesday. Jim Oden and his wife, Karen, have owned this restaurant since 1982, and they moved into this location six years later. Jim Oden said sales were down and costs across the board were up. The Odens revamped their menu about a year ago, choosing to serve meals like fried chicken and tenderloins. Customers made it clear they wanted the barbecue Oden’s previously served, but operating an indoor pit had become too complicated and expensive. “We’re on a first-name basis with so many customers that we’ve known for 20-to-30 years. They’re not customers. They’re friends,” Jim Oden said. Karen Oden said a new owner was supposed to lease the restaurant from the family, but when that didn’t work out last week, the Odens made a challenging choice. When Jim and Karen started this popular spot, it was little more than a roadside log cabin. 119th Street and 69 Highway reopens in Overland Park “It’s real convenient for us. We always counted on the specials he had every day, which won’t be here anymore,” Dan Chevalier, a regular customer, said. “Their menu is wonderful. They cook wonderful. Their prices were great. It’s a sad day. It surely is,” Bud Cary, another regular, told FOX4 News. Oden’s was home to about two dozen employees, all of whom will need new jobs soon. Jim Oden said his biggest regret was not being able to share a proper farewell to his customers, many of whom are still asking for that, and perhaps, one final meal.