BEAN BLOSSOM — The rumors are true: Brownie’s restaurant is closing.

The septic system at the restaurant was inspected on Oct. 11 and was found to be in “total failure,” according to a letter from the Brown County Health Department dated Oct. 17.

Owner Ed Brown was given the choice to go on “pump and haul” until a new septic system could be installed, or to close the business until a new system could be installed, the letter said.

Pumping out the waste and hauling it to two different places — one for the sewage and another for the grease — could cost $2,000 a month, said John Kennard, environmental health supervisor for the health department.

Brown chose to close the restaurant, and not replace the system or do pump-and-haul.

Sitting at one of his favorite tables sipping coffee this morning, Brown said he has the money to put in a new system, but he’s tired of jumping through the health department’s “hoops.”

About five years ago, the septic system at the restaurant failed, and Brown — who is also a certified septic system installer — replaced it with a Presby system.

“I put it in without any labor. I put in a bigger system than what was required. In fact, there are two systems out there. I spent over $17,000 without any labor. I had my own people to help me and my machinery,” he said.

But he said the system began to fail within the first year.

“It has continued to basically fail. I’d buy dirt and I’d build it back up. Every time I fixed it, then within a month or so it was leaking again,” he said.

“I think the soil down here will not accept the water that way. I’ve put in a lot of regular septic systems in the ground and I never had problems with them.”

He said about three-and-a-half weeks ago, the health department came out and wanted him to put in a 1,500-gallon grease tank.

“They said that grease was getting through the grease tank,” he said. Health department employee Ernie Reed also took a sample from the system’s sand, he said.

“I don’t hear nothing for three weeks almost. Then I get a letter last Friday that I am closing Saturday. Nobody comes and tell me anything. I just get a letter that last Friday was going to be the last day.”

Brown went to the health department to ask for an extension.

“‘I’m not going to tear that system out and put in another for $20,000 or $30,000,’” he told them. “I’ve done everything that was supposed to be done. I would like to have two weeks so my employees can get another job.”

Both parties agreed to a closing date of Oct. 31 as long as the system was not actively leaking, according to a follow-up letter dated Oct. 19.

“The reason I decided is because I don’t feel like I like to be railroaded,” Brown said.

“I bought this restaurant for my wife because my wife was a housewife. I kept the restaurant, built the restaurant for her because I was supposed to die a hell of lot sooner than she did.”

His wife, Shirley, passed away two years ago.

The restaurant was not open to receive tourist traffic on Saturday, Oct. 20, prompting speculation from patrons about what had happened.

“It was a very tough decision, but it had to be made,” Kennard said Tuesday afternoon.

Health department staff had known “for a long time” that there were problems with the septic system, he said. “I think it would be fair to say that we’ve exhausted all reasonable financial positions on this issue.”

Normally, the state health department handles septic systems on commercial properties, including restaurants, but because the work done to the system at Brownie’s was considered a repair, the local health department stayed involved, Kennard said. If a new owner were to take over someday, then the septic system would be governed by the state health department, he said.

“It’s a sad situation,” he added, calling it “one of the best places to eat.” Health department staff dine there probably once a week, he said.

“The service is good; the help is nontraditional. They’re in there giving and taking just like the patrons are, and it doesn’t take you long to fit in; it’s like a big family,” he said. “They eat at a certain time and they sit in this booth, and the coffee drinkers, they sit in this chair at this table and have a certain group. … It’s a really interesting dynamic. And if you didn’t know anybody before you leave, you’re going to know somebody. … It’s rumor central.”

Brownie’s is the second landmark restaurant to close this month. Last week, the owners of the Nashville House downtown announced they would close that 91-year-old business on Oct. 28.

Brownie’s was originally known as Robbins Drive In, which opened in 1962. Ed and Shirley Brown renovated it and reopened it in 2002 as Brownie’s Bean Blossom Inn, later changing the name to Brownie’s Bean Blossom Family Restaurant.

“It’s like the Nashville House, in a way — a piece of Brown County that I hate to see go away,” Kennard said about Brownie’s. “… I would love to see, if they ever decided to sell it, for a new owner to keep the name, Brownie’s.”

Brown said fundraising is not necessary to keep the business open and that he doesn’t owe any money on the restaurant.

“I’ve never asked anybody for a dime in my life. Can’t do it, kid. If you go out here and mow my grass I want to pay you. I’ve got enough money; if I wanted to do this, I could do it,” he said.

“If they bring the sewers in, I’ll hook on and open it back up. … That’s kind of where I’m at, kid. I don’t lie to people. I tell them the truth. It’s the only way I can be.”

When asked if he wanted to say anything to the community, Brown said, “I’m sorry.”

“That’s it. I can’t hardly talk right now. I hate it for all of the people,” he said.

“I hate it for my kids. … I call them (employees) all my kids.”

Read more in next week’s Democrat.