The Carmen Anthony Steakhouses in Waterbury and New Haven permanently shut their doors this Monday for financial reasons.

“It is with a heavy heart that I have decided to voluntarily close both the Carmen Anthony Steakhouse of Waterbury after 19 years and the Carmen Anthony Steakhouse of New Haven after 10 years,” said owner Carmen Vacalebre in a statement. “We have worked very hard to keep our doors open. Now is the time to stop the hemorrhaging of the financial losses.”

Vacalebre said that, as the restaurants’ sole owner and employer, he exhausted his financial resources as general economic downturn and other factors like construction around the Waterbury location and harsh winter storms — which Vacalebre said had shut down the restaurants for up to four-and-a-half days — affected sales to a breaking point.

He also said that approximately 70 employees lost their jobs due to the closings.

Still, the Carmen Anthony Fishhouse at 757 South Main Street in Woodbury will remain open, according to the Carmen Anthony Group’s website.

“This will allow me to focus all of my energies on the Carmen Anthony Fishhouse of Woodbury, maintaining the quality dining experience that the Carmen Anthony brand name has been known for all these years,” said Vacalebre, who added that he plans to incorporate many of the steakhouse’s menu options to the Woodbury restaurant’s repertoire.

The Carmen Anthony Restaurant Group formerly owned and operated five restaurants in Connecticut.