INDIANAPOLIS -- A popular downtown bakery and deli plans to close its doors in a couple of months.

Crawford's Bakery and Deli, at 16th Street and Capitol Avenue, is closing because its lease is expiring, 6News' Julie Pursley reported.

Owners said they plan to continue a wholesale bakery production business on Indianapolis' northwest side that distributes items to 40 states.

All employees at the bakery have been offered jobs at the wholesale facility.

Beginning Aug. 6, Crawford's will host a series of customer appreciation events.

"There's quite a few customers that come in here and we know them by their names," said employee Sherry Montana. "They come in … to hang out and to get joked around by us. We're going to miss them."

The bakery also plans to release its famous chicken salad recipe on its Web site on Sept. 1.

Crawford's has been a long-time staple of the Indianapolis community. Numerous marriage proposals have taken place there and countless birthday and wedding cakes have been purchased.