It kept on truckin’ for almost 23 years as a successful breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper club hot spot in Kihei, but now Stella Blues Cafe has closed its doors.

Starting off humbly in a much smaller location where Amigo’s is now situated near Longs Drugs, Stella Blues was named after founder Ray Ennis’ favorite Grateful Dead song, “Stella Blue,” written by Robert Hunter with music by Jerry Garcia.

Ennis died in 2009, and his wife, Janie, retired shortly thereafter. In recent years, children Kale Boverman and Cindy Eiting were in charge of the establishment.

“Stella Blues Cafe in Kihei, Maui will be closing,” according to an announcement on the restaurant’s Facebook page on Monday morning.

“After 23 years, Stella Blues Cafe is closing its doors,” it continued, in regards to a lack of agreeable terms on a new lease with its Azeka Shopping Center Mauka landlord.

“I can’t thank all of the people that have worked with and for us over the years and all the customers that have been loyal since I was a child. I have a very heavy heart but it’s also a freeing feeling that I have not felt in my adult life,” said Eiting. “Not sure what to say, but I have love for all of my family and friends.”

A server came to work on Monday morning only to find the doors locked and a sign up on the door thanking the community for all of the love and support over the years. Several other employees said that they were texted in advance of the closure.

Restaurant regulars from Maui and beyond posted emotional Facebook messages lamenting the loss of Maui’s favorite Dead Head restaurant that served grain-fed, chemical-free beef and lots of vegetarian dishes with fun song names such as “Mama Tried” meat loaf and “Sunshine Daydream'” seafood stew.

* Carla Tracy can be reached at carlatracy@mauinews.com.