Countdown on for Empress of China closure

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- The countdown to midnight is also the countdown for a San Francisco restaurant that is closing.

The Empress of China restaurant, which opened in 1966, closes its doors for good on New Year's Eve.

The Chinatown restaurant is a favorite among locals and celebrities. It is famous for its intricate artwork and for its rooftop views.

The restaurant's problems began when the building's owner put it up for sale and did not offer the Empress a long-term lease.

The building is now being marketed to high-tech companies and it is being priced at $25 million.

That has Chinatown residents worried about the gentrification of their neighborhood.