Mitzi's restaurant customers last on the block

Mitzi's, a restaurant in downtown Winnipeg, closed its doors on Good Saturday after more than four decades in business.

Located in the heart of the city, the iconic restaurant has been known for 46 years as the home of honey fennel sauce, serving up chicken fingers and Chinese food to hungry Manitobans.

Dozens of customers lined the block to pick up their orders for the last time.

“They will be missed,” Steve Favel said. “Thank you for all your services.”

Shirley Eng opened the restaurant with her husband in 1978 after opening on the corner of Harry Street and St Mary's Avenue.

In March, Eng told CTV News it was time for him to retire.

“You see 46 years is a long time, I think I need to take it easy and it's time for me to hang up my apron,” he said.

Longtime Mitzi's customer Graham McDonald was first in line to wait for the restaurant to open for the last time on Saturday.

“It's like a Winnipeg institution,” McDonald said. “I mean, honey fennel sauce was invented here. Yeah, it's sad to see them go.”

Eng said he hopes to continue Mitzi's legacy by selling the staples that helped put the restaurant on the map.

“I'm going to try to make honey fennel and put it in grocery stores, so at least my customers can still taste Mitzi,” Eng said in March.

– With files from CTV's Joseph Bernacki