Hungry, late-night diners were in for a rude surprise this April Fool's Day.

Denny's, one of Palo Alto's few 24-hour eating establishments, home to cramming Stanford students and post-prom high schoolers alike, had a written sign taped to the door: The franchise had closed as of April 1.

It's no joke.

In a few months, the location will reopen as the local Chinese restaurant, Su Hong Eatery.

Su Hong owner David King said he plans to close the restaurant at 4101 El Camino Way in Palo Alto to move to the Denny's spot at 4256 El Camino Real, which he called a "better location."

"I think we can do better here, hopefully," King said of the Denny's site. "It's probably going to help business a little bit."

A Cornish & Carey Commercial sign posted on El Camino Real since February was a hint that the all-night chain's days were numbered.

Cornish & Carey representative Steve Henry said he received "many, many offers" on the property, and that the deal was finalized last week.

Henry added that King's five-year lease of the restaurant includes an option to purchase the 26,000-square-foot lot.

"I would anticipate them taking advantage of that sometime during their lease," Henry said.

King said the target for finishing renovations and opening the new Su Hong will be this August.

Su Hong's original Menlo Park location on El Camino will remain open.

Property and franchise owner Carole St. John, of Livermore, did not return the Weekly's phone calls prior to Denny's closure.