ST. LOUIS • The four area Casa Gallardo restaurants closed for good Thursday because of the "very soft economy," a spokesman for parent company Real Mex Restaurants said.

Rick Van Warner said Real Mex Restaurants, based in California, has closed about three dozen restaurants in the last six months. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last year.

Several of the 16 managers and 200 part-time workers have been offered jobs at area Chevys Fresh Mex Restaurants owned by a franchisee and at company restaurants out west, Van Warner said. All displaced employees will get separation pay, he said.

Van Warner said Casa Gallardo first appeared in the St. Louis area in 1975.

The four restaurants are in Fairview Heights, south St. Louis County, Bridgeton and Westport.