NORMAL - After nearly 15 years in business, the Bakers Square in Normal has closed. | Flick Video: Why does Bloomington-Normal love to eat out?

Signs on the doors at the restaurant at 321 S. Veterans Parkway read, "We've enjoyed serving you over the years. We will be closing our doors for the last time on Aug. 26."

The 5,300-square-foot eatery opened in January 1994 and was among the first downstate Illinois locations.

It sold soups, salads and sandwiches but was best known for its pies. Thanksgiving was the restaurant's busiest day for pie sales; last year it had orders for more than 2,200 pies.

Bakers Square restaurants are owned by Denver-based Vicorp Restaurants Inc., which opened the first location about 25 years ago.

Company officials could not be reached for comment on the Normal location's closure Wednesday afternoon, but the parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and announced plans to close 56 restaurants in April. The company made the decision because of the slowing economy and higher operating costs.

After the closures, Vicorp has 343 Bakers Square and Village Inn eateries in 25 states.

The closure of Bakers Square in Normal follows a similar story of another local restaurant that closed at the end of July.

Bennigan's Grill & Tavern in Normal shut its doors after the chain filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. All of the stores owned by parent company Metromedia Restaurant Group closed, but franchised and independently operated locations remained open.