New owner for Highland capital cafe run by same family for 70 years
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A much-loved institution in Inverness city centre has been acquired by a new owner after being in the hands of the same family for more than 70 years.
Charlie's Cafe, next to the city's bus station, holds fond memories for many locals, tourists and bus travellers who have stepped through its doors since it was first opened by Charlie Pieraccini in 1952.
Based in Margaret Street, it is part of the city's heritage having been the first café to have a jukebox in 1957 and serving milky coffees to lively crowds of young people in its early years.
Martin Pieraccini – Charlie's grandson – first started working in the cafe at the age of eight, clearing tables and washing dishes, and later went on to run the cafe for almost 30 years.
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He has now sold the business but is reassured it is in safe hands with the new owner, Chris Corbett, who also has strong family links with Inverness and intends to retain its character.
"I am sad it is not going to continue under my stewardship but glad that at least with Chris, he is going to continue it," Mr Pieraccini (60) said.
"I have no family – that is the thing. I always knew it was going to end.
"It is going to someone who is full of enthusiasm and knows exactly what he is doing.
"He has worked with me for the last 18 months.
"Chris has done well and has worked hard to get where he is.
"He is definitely the right person to take it into the next generation."
Despite his early working experience in the cafe, Mr Pieraccini went to work for BT after leaving school but worked for his father in his spare time at the family fish and chip shop in Grant Street.
In 1994, he took redundancy when his uncle and father were both planning to retire and ultimately took over both family businesses.
The fish and chip shop was sold to new owners in 2015.
As he hands over Charlie's Cafe to Mr Corbett, he said: "I am the last surviving member but I cannot think of anyone I would rather run it than Chris.
"I will miss the customers and staff. I have struck up a lot of friendships with people who have frequented the place."
Mr Corbett (36), meanwhile, is also from a well-known Invernessian family.
His grandfather, Dan Corbett, was a councillor in the city as was his uncle, Peter Corbett, also a former Caledonian FC player and manager.
The former Millburn Academy pupil, who is married with a three-year-old daughter, has previous experience in the hospitality industry including Lorimers in Inverness, managing a cafe at Inverness Airport and running a bar for six years in France.
He thought Charlie's was the oldest family-owned cafe in Inverness.
"It is a bit of an institution so I don't want to change it," he said.
"It is working well and has done so for a very long time."
He did concede, however, that he will have to find a replacement for the display platform previously taken up by the display of motorcycles which have been reclaimed by Mr Pieraccini.
"That is the only thing which will change," he said. "I am open to ideas as to what I can use the space for."
