NATCHEZ — The owner of Paisano’s Italian Grotto said the restaurant is not closing despite rumors many people may have heard, but he said the restaurant is up for sale.

Owner Charles Johnson said he put the restaurant up for sale about three months ago and currently has three interested buyers.

Johnson said one of the buyers wants to keep the restaurant operating as Paisano’s, another wants to create a Mexican and pizza restaurant and the third a Cajun restaurant.

Johnson said Paisano’s will not close until a purchase is finalized. He said if the restaurant remains Paisano’s, he does not believe the restaurant will close during the ownership transition.