Tortilla Flats, a Mexican eatery in downtown San Luis Obispo for more than 30 years, is closing.

Owners Tom and Margie Maupin have sold the restaurant for an undisclosed amount to Doc and Nancy Thompson, who plan to open Doc’s California Karaoke Bar & Grill at that location in November. The restaurant will serve diner-style food and feature nightly entertainment.

"I’ve reached a point where I’ve decided I’m going to go fishing and play golf,’’ said Tom Maupin, whose wife, Margie, is the general manager at Cool Hand Luke’s restaurant in Santa Maria.

The Santa Maria residents have owned Tortilla Flats for about four years. They bought the restaurant, which employs 28 people, from Elias and Ruth Nimeh. The Nimehs had operated Tortilla Flats for 20 years before selling it to the Maupins.

"It’s been great fun, and I’m going to miss the customers and employees," Maupin said.

The Thompsons, meanwhile, became interested in the Tortilla Flats location after they abandoned their original plan to open a karaoke restaurant at the former Hudson’s Grill on Monterey Street.

"The (former) Hudson’s owner (David Katz) filed for bankruptcy, and it held us up,’’ said Nancy Thompson. "But the opportunity came up to buy Tortilla Flats, which is wonderful because it’s across the street from the San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum, and families will be able to come in during the day.’’

The restaurant will have karaoke every day, including a Tuesday night "star performers’’ show. Customers will be able to ask these performers to sing for them.

Nancy Thompson said she plans to make a few changes to the restaurant, but she would like it to retain a "homey feel.’’

"It’s such a wonderful little building,’’ she said. "We want to keep that old California style, but not the Mexican theme.’’

As well, they will keep the neon Tortilla Flats sign for a few years, she said.

Tortilla Flats, which first opened for business in 1974, will serve its final customers tonight.

— Julie Lynem