A long-time family-owned Vicksburg restaurant has closed its doors.

It was announced in a press release Monday that Rowdy’s Family Restaurant closed after serving patrons Sunday to allow for renovations and will reopen as a “high-tech, updated version” of Taco Casa, which is also owned and operated by the family of the late Rowdy Nosser, who passed away nearly a year ago.

Taco Casa, which has been a staple of Vicksburg for the last 40 years, is expected to open in the Highway 27 location in fall of this year.

Regan Nosser, the fourth generation of Nosser family members to make their mark in the food service industry in Warren County, is implementing this change ironically on his late father’s birthday.

Regan Nosser said his dad shared his thoughts of the changing demands and trends of the restaurant business in Vicksburg, including the future of Rowdy’s Family Restaurant.

“Over the course of the last year or two, he would talk about it but never put it in action,” Regan Nosser said of the change. “But I think if he hadn’t had passed, this would have happened sooner instead of me coming in and opening a whole new restaurant.”

Nosser said he’s “kind of nervous and kind of excited” at the same time, but he understands some people may not be pleased with the change.

“I knew I would get some criticism, but that’s not going to stop me,” Nosser said. “I know it’s the right move. Turning over a whole new leaf is the right thing to do.”

He said the new Taco Casa restaurant would include modern technology, from the drive-through system to menu boards.

“We’re going to make everything at the new location up-to-date and run as smoothly, efficiently and fast as possible,” Nosser said.

Rowdy’s Family Restaurant opened its doors 30 years ago and has been recognized locally and nationally for its dishes, including being voted Vicksburg’s Best Catfish from 1996-2017.

Last year, Rowdy’s Mississippi Mud Pie became the focus of two national television shows. On Aug. 18, 2017, State Plate hosted by Taylor Hicks, aired on the Inspiration Channel. Each episode of this program builds “the perfect plate of food” from a state and Rowdy’s Mississippi Mud Pie was featured as the dessert for Mississippi. On Oct. 3, 2017, Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations hosted by Andrew Zimmern aired on the Travel Channel. Rowdy’s Mississippi Mud Pie was selected as a featured unique food for the Mississippi Delta focused episode. These two nationally televised events occurred in tandem with the celebration of the Nosser family serving the community for the last 100 years.

Rowdy Nosser was a huge supporter of his hometown, playing a key role in promoting tourism in Vicksburg, as well as supporting local government and schools. In recognition, he will be honored with the dedication of a ballfield at the new Sports Force on the Mississippi sports complex that is currently being constructed.