STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Perkins Family Restaurant and Bakery in Eltingville declared its final day in business as Sunday, Jan. 29.

General Manager Kathy Gaeta opened this very location 21 years ago. As she greeted patrons on the final morning shift she explained that the owner intends to retire and subsequently is "downsizing" on Staten Island.

Aside from the Eltingville spot, there are two other Perkins -- one on Hylan Boulevard in Grasmere and the other at Forest Avenue in Graniteville.

"We are heartbroken because it's one of our favorite places," says regular patron Dr. Vincent Maligno of Arden Heights.

"After church service we'd always go there and we are Perkins members," he says. Dr. Maligno says his family has patronized the location since its inaugural days.

Ms. Gaeta says that the restaurant will serve until 10:30 p.m. Sunday, as usual. Some furnishings will go to the other borough Perkins.

Denny's will be opening at 4370 Amboy Rd. and Ms. Gaeta says many of the Perkins' employees will stay on with the new operator.

A spokeswoman for Denny's confirmed, "The Staten Island location is tentatively scheduled to open in April 2017. However, these dates do change frequently..."

Ms. Gaeta says she is sad about the closure and loves working at Perkins -- she is 27 years all together with the company.

In her tenure as General Manager, she says there has been very little turnover. She is quite proud of her staff and praised the people with whom she has worked over the years, including server Marissa King who was on duty that morning. Ms. Gaeta was pleased about a reunion of sorts that happened last week when about 20 former colleagues came to say 'good-bye.' Staff, she says, typically call her "Mom."

Ms. Gaeta told customers she would be working dinner shifts at the Forest Avenue Perkins after taking several weeks off.

She had penned a note on the marker board by the entrance, "We want to thank all our guests for their loyalty to Perkins. It's been our pleasure to serve you over 20 years." And on behalf of the Amboy Road staff she wrote to all: "God bless and stay safe and well."