On Saturday September 14, 12-year-old Carlton restaurant Epocha will permanently close.

Epocha, which means “a distinctive era”, had exactly that.

“An era has a beginning and an end, and it’s probably best to go out in its finest time,” co-owner Angie Giannakodakis tells Broadsheet.

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“Epocha is the place that you step foot in, and you don’t understand why, but it feels familiar like you’re in a home – your parents’ home, your grandparents’ home, you feel like you’re part of the house.”

Giannakodakis and Epocha co-owner Guy Holder said they held off closing for as long as possible, but the difficult economic climate, combined with the fact that the 1800s terrace building that houses the restaurant was recently sold, meant they had few options.

“A restaurant isn’t just brick and mortar, it’s the people we connect with that give us purpose. We’ve hugged and kissed our regulars, celebrated weddings and shared milestones of their lives. These relationships have given us energy and purpose every day,” said Holder in a statement.

The duo are encouraging people to stop by the restaurant for a final feed before the last day of service.

Giannakodakis has no plans to change career.

“Once I’ve done some reflection, after we’ve finished up and I’ve taken a little bit of time to just rest, my intention is not to leave the industry, to keep going,” she says.