PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Original Taco House — a locally-owned icon of the Portland restaurant scene — closed its 2 remaining locations over the weekend.

The Waddle family started Waddle’s Restaurant at Jantzen Beach the day World War II ended and then expanded to 3 Original Taco House locations in the 1960s. Unfortunately, Jeff Waddle — the surviving member of the restaurant family — said he had no choice but to close the restaurants.

The 2 locations officially closed Sunday, Dec. 31 — an emotional ending for a family restaurant business dating back decades.

The family business began as Waddle’s, a Jantzen Beach restaurant and coffee shop, along what was then Highway 99. The iconic duck on the restaurant sign was a fixture on the way up to Vancouver even after the interstate freeway was built.

“We started as Waddle’s Restaurant back in 1945 — the day the war ended,” Jeff Waddle said. “Grandpa sacrificed a lot and my dad and mom ran this business. They put their heart and soul into it and we tried to do the same thing, but we ran out of time.”

The Original Taco Houses grew out of Waddle’s success. The Northeast 82nd location was the first Original Taco House, which opened in 1960. It was a fixture on KOIN’s mid-day cooking segments.

At one point, there were 3 Original Taco Houses in the Portland area. Jeff Waddle’s brother and business partner, who ran the restaurants, died last year — prompting the closure of the restaurants.

“We had an agreement in the event something happened to one of us that we would take care of our children,” Waddle said. “So I’m honoring what the agreement was and hopefully everybody will have a better life because of our efforts and our grandparents’ efforts and my folks’ efforts.”

The closure of the 2 locations marks the end of an era that dated back several generations. However, Waddle gave some hope that the Taco House may make some sort of return in the future.

Employees received their final checks Tuesday and Waddle also said any customers who still have gift cards can receive a full refund if they’d like.