THE owner of a Clydebank restaurant has said there will be tears when he shuts his doors for the final time this month.

50 States Diner at the Clyde Shopping Centre will hold its last day of business on either March 25 or 26, depending on the restaurant’s stock levels.

Tony Philip, the owner of the diner, described the two and a half years since it opened as a “hard slog” and admitted struggling to compete with large franchises nearby.

The chef of 30 years said the final straw was the impending arrival of a Nando’s in place of Harry Corry on Britannia Way – a move which he claimed would “finish” his business.

The 53-year-old told the Post: “When I first started up the company we had to prove a thing called displacement, that we wouldn’t put anyone out of business by being there.

“Even if Nando’s take five per cent off us, we are finished. I think it’s unfair of the council to put Nando’s in there.

“I don’t know how Nando’s can prove displacement because they have shut us down before they have even opened.”

Nando’s were unavailable for comment but a spokesman for West Dunbartonshire Council said: “Competition between one restaurant operator and another is not a planning consideration.”

Instead of renewing his lease at the end of the year, Tony made the painstaking decision to call time on the diner and said he will miss his staff, who have become like family to him.

He continued: “It’s 10 people that will lose their jobs here, all local people. Everybody’s all trying to do their own thing.

“Some of the staff are in their late 40s and their daughters are helping them with CVs. My chef is thinking about stopping being a chef. He’s been a chef for 25 years.

“Everybody’s losing out. It’s going to be a lot of tears when we finish up and the reality actually hits. I think after a couple of days of not going in, the reality will sink in.”

50 States Diner has invited regular customers to the restaurant for a free meal on its last weekend.

A statement at the diner read: “We would like to thank all of our loyal customers who we have got to know over the past two and a half years, we will miss serving you all.”

Tony added: “People are really upset about it. We’ve had a few hugs and a few tears from customers.”