Family cafe closes after 98 years due to high costs

A family cafe has closed its doors after almost a century in business due to rising costs, its owners have said.

The Fulgoni family business - once a staple of the seaside town of Porthcawl in Bridgend county - has ceased trading after "losing money for a few years".

Spanning three generations, it was founded in 1926 by Basilio Fulgoni.

His grandson Basil Fulgoni, who has run the operation in recent years, quoted "high overheads" as the reason behind the "inevitable" decision to shut.

"It’s the end of an era," said Mr Fulgoni.

"At one stage we had eight properties in Porthcawl, from Trecco Bay all the way up to Rest Bay.

"We had three cafes and employed around 100 staff in the summer. We were well known for our dairy ice cream."

The Fulgoni family’s Porthcawl story began when Basilio moved from Maesteg and opened his first shop opposite the town's railway station on Dock Street.

Over time the business expanded with the family operating several ice cream carts on Coney Beach.

"We had three carts there," Mr Fulgoni told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

"They were pulled by horses and each cart was named after my grandfather and his brothers - Alfredo, Basilio and Charles."

However, after nearly a century, the pressures of modern business have made it too difficult to continue.

"My four children have all been to university and pursued their own careers - they're too bright to get into catering," he joked.

"So it’s just been my wife, myself and my brother running things.

"And despite investing heavily in the business we’ve been losing money for a few years now - the overheads are simply too high."

The decision to close wasn’t taken lightly, though, especially given the strong connections the family has built with the local community.

"I’m really sorry for all our customers," Mr Fulgoni added. "We’ve made some fabulous friendships over the years.

"People would queue up most days to come in and it was a real part of the community.

"I’ve already bumped into a few of them since closing and they’ve said how much they’ll miss it.

"It’s sad because some of them feel they don’t have a place to meet anymore."

However, despite the sadness, Mr Fulgoni said he sees a silver lining.

"The business has been everything to us over the years, but I haven’t had much of a life outside it," he admitted.

"Now, at 69, I’ve got a chance to finally have a tidy holiday and spend more time with my four beautiful granddaughters."

The family has plans to travel to Spain soon, marking a rare break from the routine of running the business.

"We haven’t been anywhere for the last three years," he said. "We’ve also got a trip to Bournemouth planned to see our newest granddaughter."

And, although the Fulgoni name will no longer grace any doors in Porthcawl, the legacy remains.

Even after they stopped producing ice cream five years ago, the family continue to receive letters from former customers around the world.

"I’ve had posts from as far as New Zealand and Australia from people saying they’re sorry we’re going," Mr Fulgoni said.

"But it was inevitable, really."