Jing Jing Gourmet, which has been open for 38 years in Palo Alto, is set to close on May 19. (Kate Bradshaw/Bay Area News Group)

After 38 years in business, Jing Jing Gourmet, Palo Alto’s much-loved Szechuan and Hunan restaurant, is set to close its doors this Sunday, May 19.

“The expenses are too much for us,” said restaurant manager Betty Tsai, daughter of restaurant owner Susan Tsai.

In recent years, the cost of rent, labor and materials increased while customers’ dining habits shifted, as fewer people commuted to work nearby, she says.

The restaurant’s lease ends at the end of May. The plan is for the business to find a new location nearby — potentially in Mountain View, Sunnyvale or Santa Clara — and focus on takeout, delivery and catering services, Tsai says.

“We want to express our deepest thanks for your patronage over the years,” the Tsai family announced on the restaurant’s website. “It has been an honor serving this community for 38 years, and we are so grateful for your support and friendship.”