Aromas Café
Aromas is a bustling little café opposite a local hospital in Launceston. Currently family owned by Mary and George Tsakirellis, it was originally owned by Mary's family when she was 12 years of age. It was much smaller back then, about half the size, with the family living in the attached home upstairs. It was just a newsagency and takeaway store, selling rolls, sandwiches and old fashioned Haros coffee, whilst the new hospital was being built across the road. Mary and her husband George and their two young children moved in and took over the business in June 2000, continuing to run it as it was for 6 months before deciding to expand and renovate it into a 20 seat café.
In the early days of their new ownership George decided to modernize and move away from the Haros coffee. He sampled many until finally settling on Lavazza. The very coffee brand they continue to use today. Lavazza is also a family business, started over 100 years ago by Luigi Lavazza. The coffee at Aromas is easily their highest seller, with a large collection of regular customers coming in almost daily.
About 7 years after taking over, with business booming, they decided it was time to expand again. They moved out of the attached home and extended the business to become the 100 seat café that it is today.
Staying true to the original business, Aromas still sells local newspapers, sandwiches and rolls. However with a staff of over 20 people they now host a full breakfast and lunch menu available seven days a week. And with their two eldest sons both having worked in the café, it will remain a family owned and run business for many years to come.
AROMAS
272 Charles Street, Launceston, TAS 7250
p: 03 6331 4150
e: aromas.fine.foods@bigpond.com
Open: 7.00am to 6.00pm Monday to Friday
7.00am to 5.00pm Saturday, Sunday
Aromas Cafe is featured in From The Menu Launceston