VIDEO: A Lake Country institution, the Wooden Nickel Cafe prepares to close

When the Wooden Nickel Cafe opened in Winfield, the Berlin Wall was still in place, and the World Wide Web was just an idea.

It's been a central meeting place for decades, but the owner says the business can no longer afford to stay open.

"It's just with everything going on in the world right now, and us being new," said Cheryl Forester, "it's just unfortunately not working out for us."

Forester took over ownership of the Nickel a year ago after working at the cafe for most of a decade.

It's the end of a long run.

The home-style eatery has been around longer than most people can remember.

"Since 1990," said Forester, pointing to the sign inside the cafe.

"But we've had a lot of people say it was here before that."

The cafe's customers are already feeling the loss too.

"It's more of an institution you know. It's been here for so long," said Heather Burton. "I would really like to keep it."

Her husband, John agreed, while holding a wooden nickel in his hand.

"Everyone comes here to meet and socialize," he said. "It's a shame it's lost."

It's been fairly busy since the impending closure was announced on Facebook Monday.

"It's sad because you see smaller businesses like this going out of business just because of overhead costs," said Caleb Matthews while enjoying a breakfast at the Nickel.

"We're replacing small places like this with personality with typically a bigger chain-type either restaurant or store or whatever it might be and you really start to lose that personality."

A GoFundMe page was started up by a supporter that's raised over $1,600, but it won't likely keep it open.

"I don't want a GoFundMe started and inevitably it not be enough to keep going and people gave money," explained Forester.

"So it's been a little bit awkward for me."

At this point, she said it would take a miracle to keep the doors open.

"Otherwise we're probably looking at the end of the weekend," said Forester.

But when she sees the community raising money to save her business she's brought to tears.

"The community is absolutely amazing," she said. "People have been coming out and trying to support us."

Forester's biggest hope is that someone else can find a way to keep it going.

"Even if we could get someone to take over that could continue the legacy that are maybe in a better financial position than we are in," she said.

Forester is already looking forward to working for someone else for a change.

"Maybe work Monday to Friday," she said.

"Spend some time with my kids."