Beloved San Ramon Eatery Closing After 32 Years

San Ramon, CA — August 7 will mark a sad day for locals hungry for their favorite hearty breakfast in San Ramon. More than three decades after opening, a popular San Ramon mainstay will close its doors forever.

“It’s like Cheers because everyone know’s your name,” longtime Ruggie’s manager Jill Rebiejo told Patch.

On their 32nd anniversary in the Crow Canyon Commons Shopping Center, the staff at Ruggie’s learned about the sad closure.

Owned by Danville residents Rutger and Carole Van Muijen, Ruggie’s opened in 1984 and has always been a family affair and the staff at Ruggie's knew almost all of their customers by name.

“We have watched people who were dating, got married and now their kids are grown,” Rebiejo said.

Rebiejo says she will miss that sense of community and the loyal customers.

“Even our mailman was sad when he had to ask me sign for the final letter from the management company,” Rebiejo told Patch. “We are more than just a restaurant.”

Rebiejo started working at Ruggie’s when she was just 15 years old. The single mom says she was able to raise her kids on her own because of the loyal customers at Ruggie’s.

“I was also one of the few employers that would hire local youth and work around their schedules,” Rebiejo said.

Rebiejo said some of the roughly 20 employees will likely work at the nearby Growler, a new craft brew venture owned by Van Muijen.

“Thank you for supporting me and and my family,” Rebiejo said. “It is a scary time and I, like the others, will be looking for a job.”

The Growler, which opened two years ago, is located at 515 San Ramon Valley Blvd.

Federal Realty Investment Trust, which now owns the Crow Canyon Commons Shopping Center, has not been reached for comment.

Customers are encouraged to stop by Ruggie’s for one last meal before they close their doors on August 7. Ruggie’s is located 3191L Crow Canyon Place.