New York City's Carnegie Deli to close after 80 years

NEW YORK, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- The owner of New York City's iconic Carnegie Deli announced the family-owned, Jewish-style deli will close at the end of the year.

The Carnegie Deli which opened down the street from Carnegie Hall in 1937 and became known for its massive sandwiches named after celebrities such as Woody Allen will close on Dec. 31, NBC News reports.

"As you may know, the restaurant business is one of the hardest jobs in New York City. At this stage of my life, the early morning to late night days have taken a toll, along with my sleepless nights, and grueling hours that come with operating a restaurant business in Manhattan," owner Marian Harper said. "I've reached a time in my life when I need to take a step back."

The deli had faced struggles for several years including a federal court order to pay $2.6 million in back wages in 2014 and a nine month closure resulting from an illegal gas hookup in 2015, according to the New York Post.

While the brick and mortar location will close at the end of the year, Harper's spokeswoman Cristyne Nicholas said there are plans to carry on the deli's brand.

"Moving forward, Marian Harper hopes to keep her father's legacy alive by focusing on licensing the iconic Carnegie Deli brand and selling their world-famous products for wholesale distribution," she said.