ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla.-- It's the familiar sound that's constantly heard around the ancient city.
The horse and carriage.
'I like hearing the clip-clopping. It's just really nice," Stephanie Gutierrez said.
Early Monday, the St. Augustine Transfer Company, also known as Avalon Carriage, closed its stalls for good.
The owner and employees couldn't be more upset.
"In my opinion, the city ran us out," Jeff Holzer said.
Holzer has been running the stalls and behind-the-scenes operations for years. Inflated permit prices mixed with what he calls lack of cooperation from the city led to sinking profit.
"It's a shame that it came to this. Instead of getting some help, and creating situations to where everybody could thrive and survive," he continued.
Closed for business means the 10 employees now have to look for work. Holzer says Avalon is the oldest carriage company in the county and one that personally taxied Henry Flagler around, meaning more should have been done to save it.
Longtime faithfuls agree.
"It's hard to hear that the oldest one around isn't available anymore," Gutierrez said.
Many of the horses are privately leased and will be put out to pasture.
