"Fifty percent is what we're down in sales," Blue Heron restaurant owner Joseph Boer said.

The Blue Heron has been in business for 25 years at the lake. The atmosphere in the kitchen still looks hectic. However, with less diners they are preparing less food.

"If on a Saturday night we have 250 people, this year we would be lucky to have 100 people," Boer said.

Other lake area establishments are facing this problem as well.

"This has definitely been the slowest year of all seven that we've had," Brass Door owner Gary Barr said.

Restaurant traffic is down, and owners said their cost of food is up. This is causing some to rethink their menus and others to take a loss.

"We're changing our menu. We're trying to do whatever we can to get people to come into the restaurant," Barr said.

"I have very expensive products that come from overseas, I increased my food value but not my sales price. I lost money on products but didn't want to give up," Boer said.

The Blue Heron is confident business will pick up eventually, although it's closing out the season early. The restaurant usually closes the first week in December but this year, with lagging profits, the Blue Heron is closing in late November.

"The good news is the people who come out drink more wine, but no profit this year," Boer said.