The curtains are drawn tight over the windows at Reither’s Fine Food International.

After 23 years of providing Church Street shoppers with meats, seafood and other edibles from all over the world, owner and Austrian master butcher Peter Reither has decided to close the deli and specialty food store.

A farewell sign on the door thanks staff and customers for their loyalty and cites Reither’s retirement as the reason for the close.

The abrupt departure came with little notice and will certainly leave a void in the neighbourhood. No word yet as to what will take its place, but this much is certain: Church Wellesley village just got a lot less schnitzel-friendly.