UPDATE: The owners have decided to keep the restaurant open and hope that the new Niles Town Square will boost business. They’re open for dinner Wed. – Sun and brunch on the weekends. On the other end of the food spectrum, I’m told the KFC on Fremont Boulevard in Irvington has closed.

The very tasty Essanay Cafe on Niles Boulevard could cease to be a full-time restaurant very soon. Owners of the white tablecloth establishment will meet tonight to discuss its future. They’re all locals who have put a lot of money into the place, but the economy has taken its toll. They still have more than a year remaining on their lease.

One idea is to keep the place closed most of the time, but open it for special events like the Open Mic night and for private bookings.

I don’t usually do plugs, but the restaurant will offer its Recession Dinner meal on Wednesday night — a three-course healthy organic meal for $12. Whether it will be open for business on Thursday is undetermined.