Amarin Thai Cuisine, one of Sacramento's earliest Thai restaurants, has gone dark after the owners closed last week.

On Jan. 19, the family-run restaurant shut its doors at the corner of I and 12th streets, just a few blocks from government buildings housing thousands of state, city, county and federal employees. Downtown workers made up the bulk of Amarin's customers during weekday lunches.

"That was our favorite," said downtown resident Gloria Burt, an art show curator for Sacramento's Central Library. "The food was really, really good. We're unhappy it's gone."

Like many other businesses in the central city, Amarin was hurt by the recession and state employee furloughs. But a loss of revenue was not the reason for the restaurant's closure, according to a source who spoke to the owners.

Amarin was believed to have been the second Thai restaurant to open in Sacramento. The Sacramento County health department's earliest records for the restaurant date back to 1989. Another family first opened the restaurant, and that may have been earlier. The current owner, listed as Sureerat Nui Mach, had opened a restaurant of the same name in Folsom in 2002 and later sold the business.

Siam Restaurant is believed to have been the first, according to Lek Pitak, who owns Thai Palace, 3262 J St., and Thais working at Siam.

Siam first opened in the 5300 block of Franklin Boulevard. The city built a police station there and Siam relocated to 5100 Franklin Blvd. City of Sacramento Revenue Division records for that location date to 1988. Siam workers said the restaurant first opened by 1984 or possibly earlier.

The Burt family discovered Amarin soon after the first family opened it. Over the years, the restaurant expanded and the interior was decorated more, Burt said.

"We had a lot of friends who liked going there," she said. "Now where are we going to get our coconut soup? It was the best."

Amarin's license to sell beer and wine expired Dec. 31, but is still considered active until the end of a 90-day grace period, according to the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Amarin's space at 900 12th St. may not stay vacant for long. More than five potential restaurant operators have inquired about leasing the retail space on the ground floor of the Congress Hotel in the week since the restaurant closed.

The owners could not be reached for comment.