Las Palma's Authentic Mexican Restaurant closed its doors on Wednesday after 14 years in business.

The restaurant, located at 2715 N. Belt Highway, was owned by Rick Palma and had been in business since 1995.

According to employees, the morning shift workers were called at home and told not to report to work and that the restaurant would be closed indefinitely.

They were not told when, or if, the restaurant would possibly reopen. The restaurant employed about 30 people in the dining room, lounge and kitchen areas.

Employees told St. Joe Now that the closing came as a surprise. "Our dining room was full last night," one of the employees, who did not want to be named, told a St. Joe Now reporter.

Mr. Palma previously was involved with Johnny Fry's, a restaurant located at 224 N. Fourth St. That restaurant closed in 1995 due to difficulty coming to terms for a lease in that building, which is now home of Boudreax's Louisiana Seafood & Steaks.

The current Las Palma's location on the Belt Highway was once home to Rancho Santa Fe restaurant.

The closure forced a quick relocation of a Josephine Ladies Night Out event, which had been scheduled for Thursday evening at Las Palma's. The event was held at El Jalapeno, a Mexican restaurant located at 707 Edmond St.

Palma's was chosen as the silver award winner in the St. Joseph News-Press annual Readers' Choice awards. It was chosen in the 2009 category for best Mexican restaurant.