Vallemar Station, a steak-and-prime-rib mainstay set inside a 1905 railway depot on Highway 1 in Pacifica, served its last meal July 12 after a lease deal for new owners fell through.

Vallemar Station, the steak-and-prime-rib mainstay housed in a 1905 railway depot on Highway 1 in Pacifica, served its last meal July 12, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Hal and Barbara Ash opened the restaurant in 1996, and it ran for three decades on old-school dinners and rail-themed decor — model railroads throughout the room and an original rail from the 1900s-era Ocean Shore Railroad set under the bar as a foot rest.

The closure had been telegraphed for months. SFGATE reported in February that the owners planned to shut down, citing rising costs, a downturn in business and Barbara Ash's declining health, but hoped to find a buyer. A sale nearly went through: "the restaurant was set to continue under new ownership, but the landlords ultimately decided not to move forward with the lease," Vallemar Station wrote on Facebook, per the Chronicle.

Vallemar was one of several notable Bay Area closures in July. In Oakland, the Peruvian restaurant Pucquio closed July 31 after 13 years. Chef-owner Carlos Moreira told the Chronicle that business was down about 25% from last year even with regulars and positive press, on top of rising ingredient costs. "It's sad to see many positive things not translate into financial stability," he said, adding that he hopes to reopen with a smaller menu.

Both rooms tell the same July story: a loyal following and good reviews were not enough to carry the lease.