Decades of Auburn diners – students and residents – are saying a fond farewell to a favored haunt.

Tenda Chick, which opened in 1989 at Corner Village on North Dean Road, has closed.

A letter at the door of the restaurant said the closing is happening with “much sadness and a heavy heart.”

“We were seemingly able to survive the COVID pandemic debacle,” wrote owner Brian P. Moore. “However, it was the post COVID world that brought a different set of challenges to opening the doors each day. I saw things happen in our country that I never thought I would see, resulting in many businesses closing to never reopen. The last 3 1/2 years were a struggle, that ultimately in the end we were not able to overcome.”

Moore said the restaurant is exploring options to revive the brand in the future, but did not elaborate.

Selling chicken fingers, salads and sandwiches, Tenda Chick saw plenty of business over the years, judging by social media posts of casual meals and sports team celebrations.

Mark Barber, a customer, wrote on Facebook that “I feel as if I have lost a friend.”

“Sounds so silly but I had so many memories there from high school to now,” Barber said.

Martha Rose Brown paid tribute, saying, “Thanks for treating the locals and us ‘college kids’ so well over the years.”