The Hard Rock Cafe in downtown Sacramento is closing its doors after 12 years.

The restaurant was an anchor of the troubled Westfield Downtown Plaza, and is the latest casualty of the poor economy, said Mayor Kevin Johnson.

"The Hard Rock closing certainly reflects what is going on with this country and state. It's hitting us very hard," Johnson said at a press conference Friday. "We haven't hit bottom and we haven't come out of it yet, and that's very difficult for all of us."

Michael Ault, executive director of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, said he just heard about the closing Thursday.

"We are disappointed," he said. "Hard Rock is an iconic property. The destination it represents in Sacramento is definitely something we will miss."

Ault also said that despite the closing of the restaurant, he is encouraged by increasing development in the 700 and 800 blocks of K Street, something that Johnson said is important, along with development of J and L streets.

"We are committed to having a vibrant K Street," Johnson said. "It is very important for the core of our city."

Ault said that Hard Rock Cafe will close next month. The worldwide chain opened a restaurant in Seattle last week, and will open one in Los Angeles next month.

"What Hard Rock is saying to all of us is that in tier-two cities or midsize markets, we're closing," Johnson said. "If you're a top-tier major market, we're opening and expanding."

Johnson said that one of his goals this year is to attract more businesses to the downtown area.

"We're going to be very aggressive to try to attract retail to the downtown plaza as well as J, K and L," he said. "Just sitting on the sidelines and doing nothing is unacceptable. We have to give people a reason to come downtown."