Lawrenceville took another step away from its past over the weekend when Barb’s Corner Kitchen, the Butler Street mainstay across from Allegheny Cemetery, served its last plate of homestyle diner fare.

“It was a heartbreaking decision to close, but at the same time, it’s OK. It was time to move on,” says owner Bob Geraci. “I knew it had to be done because things aren’t like they used to be.”

Geraci, 66, says a confluence of factors led to the decision to close the restaurant.

His mother, Patricia Geraci, passed away in March. His son isn’t interested in taking over the family business. Prices “on just about everything” have continued to rise, making it just about impossible to keep costs at a reasonable level. And the neighborhood, once home to third-shift workers and an active Teamster

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