Ladyman's Cafe prepares to close in downtown Bloomington

Bob Martin and Homer "Bud" Lynch sit side by side at a table inside Ladyman's Cafe, talking, drinking coffee, but mostly watching the breakfast crowd come and go.

Martin helps himself to the pot right behind them for a fill-up while Lynch eats a full plate of biscuits and gravy.

This scene, with maybe slight variations, has played out over and over, six days a week, for decades. Same time, same place.

The two men, who graduated together from Bloomington High School in 1948, belong to a 10 a.m. men's coffee club that's been coming to Ladyman's since the '70s.

What started strong with 25 or so members is now down to four or five.

"My thought is as we disappear, the restaurant does also," said Martin, 76.