The Granite City restaurant in St. Louis Park is closing for good this month.

Employees said they were told during a meeting that the final day for the casual dining restaurant is March 26.

They said the closing arose from difficulties coming to terms on a lease at the property, just east of Hwy. 100 on Excelsior Boulevard.

Granite City, which includes a microbrewery, has been operating at that location for the past 11 years.

The chain began operations in St. Cloud in June 1999 and has grown to 36 restaurants in 14 states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wisconsin.