(WANE) – Almost exactly a year ago, fast food restaurant Penguin Point closed seven locations, including the one on Winchester Road in Fort Wayne. On Friday, the chain announced its remaining six locations are shutting down permanently.

A sign posted at the Columbia City Penguin Point

Sunday is the last day to get a Big Wally, a tenderloin or whatever your favorite meal is from Penguin Point.

Penguin Point HR Administrator Tracy May confirmed to WSBT in South Bend that 94 full-time and part-time employees learned of the closure Friday.

One manager at a Penguin Point location said various employees learned about the closure through a Zoom meeting.

Hours after the news broke, Penguin Point confirmed the closures on Facebook, saying, “It is with a heavy heart that I must announce all Penguin Point Restaurant locations will be closing this weekend. Thank you for all your support and love throughout the 73 years we have been a part of your community. We will miss you!!”

Christopher Anders, a representative for Penguin Point, told WANE 15 the stores would remain open through Sunday or until the restaurants ran out of product.

“It was a hard decision made based on the economic times and our continued struggle to try to emerge from that,” Anders said. “Unfortunately, we were unable to do that.”

Anders added that Black Tie Catering, which operates out of the Penguin Point corporate office in Kosciusko County, will continue to serve the surrounding counties.

The marquee at the Penguin Point location in North Manchester says the restaurant will be permanently closing Sunday. (Photo provided by Alicia McMahan)
The marquee at the Penguin Point location in North Manchester says the restaurant will be permanently closing Sunday. (Photo provided by Alicia McMahan)
A sign on the door of the Penguin Point location in North Manchester says the restaurant will be permanently closing Sunday.
A sign on the door of the Penguin Point location in North Manchester says the restaurant will be permanently closing Sunday. (Photo provided by Alicia McMahan)

A reporter with WANE 15 went to the Columbia City Penguin Point on Friday only to find that the restaurant there was already closed. The product at that location is being shipped to one of the Warsaw locations, workers told WANE 15.

Meanwhile, patrons overwhelmed the Auburn location, packing the restaurant with those wanting to grab one last Wally Burger while they could.

One customer even ordered a pint of the restaurant’s famous “Wally Sauce,” which is slathered all over the burger of the same name.

The chain, which first opened its doors 55 years ago, once had 23 locations across Indiana.

The remaining locations in Indiana include two locations in Warsaw and locations in Columbia City, Wabash, North Manchester and Auburn.