Diners have just a few days to get into Minerva’s, a Fremont institution, for a hearty breakfast or one of the restaurant’s signature sandwiches that for 40 years have been served stuffed into freshly baked pitas.

The Centerville district restaurant is scheduled to close at the end of business Thursday, Oct. 3, with development plans in the works for this stretch of Fremont Boulevard.

Lebanon-born Minerva Geha, who immigrated to the United States in the 1950s, founded her eponymous eatery in 1979. She, husband Richard and their children ran the business for 27 years. The operators for the last 13 years have been Christina Kong and family.

Many of Minerva’s recipes — particularly her cinnamon rolls and pita bread — are legendary in Fremont. At 3 a.m., she would start baking. Around 6, before the restaurant opened, daughter Debbie Geha Bradley recalled, a group of Fremont old-timers, including parishioners from Holy Spirit Church across the street, would show up and talk with her and drink coffee while she cooked.

“We grew our family of friends so much wider and deeper because of that place,” Bradley said.

As cooks go, Minerva “had magic in her hands,” Bradley said. She routinely spent all night on Christmas Eve baking 60 dozen cinnamon rolls for holiday customers, and at home she easily turned leftovers into huge family feasts.

The popular salads still spark heated discussions. In August, former Mayor Bill Harrison posted this question on Facebook: “I want to start a great debate amongst my Fremont friends. What is better: Minerva’s potato salad or their macaroni salad? Go!!!!”

Kong carried on Minerva’s tradition, maintaining the restaurant name and the recipes, cooking from scratch, baking the pita bread and cookies daily — all while also catering private and community events.

In recent days, customers have been flocking to the restaurant to order their favorites and say goodbye. “They’re all grateful, and I’m grateful for them,” she said.

With Thursday’s closing, Kong will retire, capping a long career cooking in several other Bay Area restaurants and here in Centerville.

“Forty years — a reputation that Minerva and I built together,” she said proudly.

Details: Minerva’s will serve from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on its last three days — today, Wednesday and Thursday — at 37463 Fremont Blvd, Fremont. 510-793-5003; www.minervasrestaurantandcatering.com.