It's an unfortunate occurrence, and one that didn't go unnoticed by quite a few locals.

Readers began emailing last week, when lease signs showed up in the windows of Coach's Burgers, a popular local restaurant located at Forest and Abrams.

After a two-year run serving some of the area's greatest burgers, it seemed the restaurant had closed overnight.

Long-time community members and co-owners of the restaurant, Vanessa and Michael Stevens, reached out to set the record straight.

"Since our high school days, William and Brian worked with me and Michael at the Lake Highlands Soccer Association concessions at Moss Field," says Vanessa.

Vanessa is referring to her brother, William Michalopulos, and Michael's nephew, Brian Chandler. Together these co-owners opened Coach's in February of 2008.

"Following a few seasons of our own team parties in 2007, the four of us decided to fill a need in the community with a place for families and teams to get together," says Vanessa.

"We wanted a big enough place to allow for drop-in groups as well as large parties."

Together the group spent countless days dreaming up the concept.

"We wanted a place where we could work and be together at the same time," she says. It seemed more than natural that this family venture pay homage to the late Al Stevens, father to Michael and first-class volunteer and community leader.

"Al was known by everyone throughout the Lake Highlands community as 'coach' - serving the LH Soccer Association for more than 20 years running their concession stands."

The concession area today is known as Al's Place. It was his memory and legacy that led to the name - Coach's Burgers - and in part to the spirit that filled this local restaurant.

"All of us grew up here," says Vanessa. "All of us know what a great place Lake Highlands is to live and raise a family. The decision to close the restaurant was not an easy one, but ultimately it was the toll it was taking on our family that led us to it."

It's no secret that the restaurant business can be brutal, in terms of hours and the hands-on commitment.

"Our family simply has to come first," explains Vanessa. "And we realized what we still have a lot to offer outside of Coach’s - things that are just as important to our community."

"Michael has made the decision to return to teaching math in the fall, and coaching in the future is always a possibility."

"And all of us will return to what we do best - volunteering in the community," she says. "We all learned that from our parents, who were some of the greatest volunteers ever."

"We're certainly grateful to everyone who supported us and the restaurant, and we really think it's important that everyone continue to support local business here in the neighborhood and the families who run them."

Lake Highlands is stronger and better for the simple fact that the Stevens and their family call this community home.

We look forward to continuing to see them in all the familiar places and count ourselves very lucky to call them friends.

Parties interested in the restaurant space should contact Merrel Moore at 214.553.1815.