Bonnie’s Cafe in St. Paul is closing, but it looks like the last day will not be this week, as was first announced.

Owner Becky Moosbrugger said she was able to negotiate an end-of-the-month closing instead of Tuesday.

For now, the last business day will likely be March 26, Moosbrugger said. However, she warned the restaurant could shut its doors earlier because closing dates have continued to change (the original closing date was in April) since the long-standing diner on University Avenue near Vandalia Street was given notice in February by property owner M&J Enterprises.

Moosbrugger said she had no plans to close the restaurant but that the Dubliner Pub next door was offered the lease. M&J Enterprises did not return a call for comment.

Patrons now have more time to say goodbye to the place Bonnie Roell founded four decades ago. Roell passed away in May 2013 and her daughter currently runs the spot.

“This place was her childhood dream. It was her love, it was her home. She never felt like she was at work. She treated every single person with the same amount of love, respect and gratitude,” Moosbrugger said. “Lifetime friendships have been made here. People at the counter would just start talking to each other. It’s an incredibly sad story. I promised I would keep her legacy alive. I thought if we could survive the light-rail construction, nothing could close these doors.”

The breakfast and lunch spot is known for not only for its food — buttermilk pancakes, omelets and other breakfast fare as well as burgers and sandwiches — but its down-to-earth prices, which customers settle not with plastic, but cash or check only. Green wooden booths, green tablecloths and wallpaper and a breakfast counter are also fixtures of the institution.

For those who want to say goodbye to the diner spot, there will be a few opportunities.

“Starting in the next few days, we will have a guestbook to sign and for customers to write their memories of Bonnie’s,” said manager Chris Johnson. “Toward the end of the month, we are going to be selling memorabilia — kind of a Bonnie’s garage sale.”

Updates on the sale and closing date will be posted on the restaurant’s Facebook page.

“The support that I’ve gotten from the public is heart-warming. There are no words to express the appreciation,” Moosbrugger said. “We’ll have a final day of service in honor of Bonnie’s Cafe. I don’t want to just close the doors, I want for people to know when the door will close.”

For some customers, the closing means the end of tradition.

After hearing that Tuesday might be the last day, Jason and Deb Crowley headed to Bonnie’s for lunch with their 3-year-old son Alexander. The spot has been their regular Sunday morning breakfast spot and they wanted to have one more helping of the buttermilk pancakes and Denver omelet. Their son also liked playing with crayons, trucks and other toys the restaurant had at the ready for kids.

“There aren’t many old style places like this anymore,” said Deb Crowley. “We wanted to give (Alexander that closure) and enjoy the food one last time. It’s family-friendly, the staff is nice, and the food is good.