For 20 years, the Wimbledon Park Cafeteria, run by the owner Mario and his family, has been catering for the runners, dog-walkers, families, and tennis players of Wimbledon Park, and has become an integral part of the local community.
Therefore, it came as a shock to many when the request to renew tenancy for the family running the café was denied, giving them until the 28 March to clear the site.
Thankfully, people will continue to be able to support the family business at their other venue, the Southwark Park Pavilion Café, but after decades of hard work and hospitality, it seems a shame to have to say goodbye to the family-run business.
During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the cafeteria was quick to respond to the changing needs of the community. It introduced a new lockdown ice-cream delivery initiative, and even began milk deliveries to the elderly and those at high risk.
Even through challenging times, the Wimbledon Park Cafeteria has remained a central point for the local area, and many will be sad to see it go. One local customer at the café said: “It’s such a shame, I’ve been going here for years and years. It was absolutely a part of my childhood and now it’s also such a big part of my kids’ upbringing, I’ll be sad to see it go.”
One of the employees of the cafe, Maria Gallo said: “The Merton Council’s denied the renewal of the lease, and I think there has been a lot of miscommunication and mixed information around it.”
When prompted further, she added: “Some people think the Wimbledon Tennis All England Club have bought it, but that’s all I really know.”
Gallo said that the news came as a shock and further added: “It was a bit of a shock when they denied our tenancy. Even though we have to move venues, we’ve been really lucky to be here for so long, and of course we’re so grateful to our customers and to Merton for supporting us for so long.”
On the 14 February 2023, Wimbledon Park Cafeteria posted on their Facebook page saying ‘It is with an extremely sad and frustrated heart that we must inform all our customers that the London Borough of Merton has denied the renewal of our tenancy’.
This was met by much upset and disappointment from the local online community, prompting one Merton councillor to reply to a concerned resident by saying that the current tenants have been invited and encouraged to put in a bid, but the council has not yet received one.
Natasha Irons, the Labour Councillor, went on to say: “I completely agree that this is a unique and much-loved café. The council is working to ensure that it can remain open and well used for the years to come.”
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