Rotorua's Lakeside Cafe will close tomorrow, devastating regular customers who say there is nowhere else quite like it.
Norma and Colin Craig have owned the cafe on the edge of Lake Rotorua for the past 14 years. They and their regular customers have shed tears over the news the building lease will not be renewed.
The Craigs said they had been told the building was to be demolished, with a sign outside the cafe stating "Our building is to be demolished. Our lease is to expire" and "Our wonderful staff are looking for work".
The current two year-lease from the Rotorua Lakes Council has a demolition clause.
Rotorua Lakeside Cafe owners, Norma and Colin Craig. Photo/ Stephen Parker
The Soundshell, to which the cafe is attached, was closed to the public in mid-2015 after falling into disrepair.
The Craigs' lawyer Wiremu Te Are said they met council representatives on January 31 and received a letter from the council advising that a renewal of lease was not being offered and the expiry date was March 31.
The Rotorua Daily Post has approached the council for comment, including confirmation on whether the building will be demolished, if so why, and what its plans are for the site.
"We have had a very good innings here. We want to be positive and we would like the public to know how much we appreciate their visits and their loyalty."
They said some customers and staff had been "part of the family for the entire 14 years".
"One table is always for a group of friends. They are elderly now and they still meet here every week. They sit here for hours."
The Craigs have also had a lot of business from visitors off cruise ships.
"Thousands a year come here from the cruise ships. The organisers have said there's nowhere else they want to go.
"They're not here for a three-course meal. They're happy for Kiwi fare. We are more of a tearooms than a cafe."
The couple said some of their staff had found other work, but some had opted to stay until the end for which they were most grateful.
"At the moment we are looking at retirement rather than moving elsewhere. This means all the contents have to be sold, everything has to be gone."
The couple said they had seen all walks of life through their doors.
"We've had all sorts of Kiwis, politicians, actors and superstars. Representatives from the Government of Thailand were the most recent major visitors. Because we are laid back types, everyone feels at home."
Regular customers John and Eileen Grundy became so close to the Craigs, they even helped clear tables when the cafe was busy.
Lakeside Cafe regulars, Eileen and John Grundy. Photo/Stephen Parker
"It's an extremely important community facility for rowers, bikers, walking groups, the elderly - they're all devastated. There's nobody else in Rotorua with this view.
"We came from a city in central England so it's a dream to sit on the lake and look at this every day.
"We can't believe it. There have been people crying with us."
Don and Pam McCarrison are also regulars.
"It has always been a lovely place with lovely people. We've had birthdays there with our grandkids and the rest of the family, a lot of happy memories."
