Another chapter of Bay Area's history is ending as Dino's Family Restaurant, a fixture of Fremont's dining scene for nearly half a century, is set to close its doors for good. The owners, Toula and Bill Sinodinos, took to Facebook earlier this month to announce the bittersweet farewell, with a note expressing "deepest gratitude for your loyal patronage throughout the years." The Sinodinos family has served meals to generations of locals, creating a space filled with friendship and memories.

Explaining the decision to shut down after 46 years, Toula explained that the restaurant "just ran its course" and it was time to "move on." Speaking to SFGATE, she shared, "It's a different atmosphere, and we need to change along with everything else." Their announcement was met with a flood of shared memories from the diner’s evolved into a community, with scores of nostalgic customers recounting their own history with the eatery, some dating back to childhood visits. When they were kids, customers have shared memories of eating at Dino's and even stories of those who clocked in shifts at the establishment.

Dino's Family Restaurant opened in 1977 by the hands of Gus and Dina Markou, Toula's parents, changing a former burger joint into the sit-down diner that became a Fremont staple. Toula recalls starting to work in the family business at age 12, performing tasks from kitchen prep to handling the cash register, as she told SFGATE.

Though the doors of Dino's are closing, the owners anticipate the restaurant's space will foster new life and continue to be a cornerstone for the community. The Sinodinos family expressed excitement for upcoming endeavors which will repurpose the space to contribute further to the community's vibrancy. "As we bid farewell to our restaurant, we are excited to share that the space will be repurposed for new endeavors that will continue to contribute to the vibrancy of our community," the Facebook post read.