Plans by Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska to move its social services and food pantry operations to 23rd and O streets are spelling the end for Old Country Buffet.

Today will be the last day for the restaurant, which has been a staple among Lincoln’s all-you-can-eat crowd for 20 years.

Father Christopher Kubat, the executive director of Catholic Social Services, said the restaurant’s lease is not being renewed because of his organization’s plans for the building.

Kubat said that when Catholic Social Services bought the building nearly two years ago, it was with the intention of moving some services there to “be closer to the downtown area and those who are in need of (our) programs and services.”

All the group’s services, which include counseling, immigration services and emergency services, among others, are spread out between the diocese offices on Sheridan Boulevard and a building the church owns next to Pius X High School.

Kubat said the organization is looking forward to being part of the Antelope Valley redevelopment and has initiated its first-ever capital campaign to help pay to renovate the building, which, in addition to housing Old Country Buffet used to house Joseph’s College of Beauty.

“It’s a really great location,” he said.

It seemed to be a great location, too, for Old Country Buffet, which opened there in the summer of 1988.

The local owners of the restaurant did not want to talk to the Journal Star, but according to a statement issued through Kubat, they said they’ve been searching for a new location but haven’t found anything suitable.

“We will continue exploring potential sites,” the statement said.

Despite the owners’ statement, an auction is scheduled Tuesday at the restaurant, according to an advertisement in the Journal Star. The ad says the auction is “wall to wall.”

Old Country Buffet’s parent company, Buffets Inc., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January, which allowed it to continue to operate while reorganizing its finances.

The Lincoln restaurant was franchised and did not appear to be affected by the bankruptcy filing. Calls to the Buffets Inc. corporate offices were not returned.

Old Country Buffet is popular with seniors, and Ginny Mueller of Beaver Crossing said it’s those people who will miss it the most.

“There are lots of seniors that live in this area who can walk here and can afford it,” said Mueller, who along with husband Lloyd visited the restaurant for a final time Friday.

“I think it’s a shame.”

Kubat said Catholic Social Services hopes to start remodeling the building in the next few months. He expects the work to take around six months, and the organization hopes to begin operating there next summer.

Reach Matt Olberding at 473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com.