Fayetteville is losing two restaurants less than a block from each other off Dickson St.

By the end of the month, both Railhead Saloon and Gullet’s Gourmet will be closed for business.

Railhead Saloon will be closing on Dec. 23, owner Shawn Stigge confirmed in an email today.

Stigge said that the slow economy and declining sales contributed to the closing of the restaurant. Railhead Saloon opened earlier this year after Tapanazos, a Spanish tapas bar and restaurant also owned by Stigge, closed in the same location.

Stigge had the following to say about the closing of the restaurant.

Railhead Saloon would like to thank all of our customers for their patronage over the past year. It is our deepest regret to inform you that due to a slow economy and declining sales, that we will be closing our business for good as of December 23, 2009. We ask that you come see us one last time, so that we can serve you one last “Bunslinger” or whatever you favorite sandwich might be. Again, we are sorry to inform you of this decision, but we do greatly appreciate all your business.

The slow winter economy has been difficult on other local businesses as well. Gullet’s Gourmet, just off Dickson St. on West Ave., officially closed its doors Dec. 6, and a few weeks ago, we found out that longtime Fayetteville bar Maxine’s Tap Room had reduced its operating hours and would be closed for the month of December due to recent slow sales.

Owner Grant Gullet posted the following on his Facebook page on Friday.

I want to thank everyone who has supported Gullett’s for the last year and a half, unfortunately due to the economy and other circumstances we will be closing this Sunday (Dec 6)

Maxine’s plans to reopen in January.

Sad news. It’s rough out there, folks.