Joe's Warehouse Restaurant and Smoobusth Herman's Nightclub and Lounge in downtown Sydney, N. S., have shut their doors after more than 30 years in business.

Owner Sara Figliomeni made the announcement of the unexpected closure of the iconic nightclub and adjoining restaurant, Joe's Warehouse, on Sunday night, posing the economy downturn and the outmigration of Cape Breton's young people as the culprit.

Nearly 70 people have lost their jobs, she revealed.

The announcement also thanked the customers for "their many years of faithful patronage and support" and employees for their work over the years.

News of the closure reverberated throughout the community on Monday after the owner's revelation. However, its employees learnt the shocking news on Sunday night.

But in the 1980s and early '90s, the nightclub was an integral part of Cape Breton's scene, a former employee George Abbass said.

"Smooth Herman's and Joe's was where absolutely everyone in Sydney went", he wrote in an email. "I mean everyone, from the big-shot business people to the bums on the street".