LAST CHANCE FOR COFFEE
Cafe serving legal world closing after 10 years
ONE of the institutions of the legal world and those who spin into its orbit is closing down.
Cafe Torte, opposite the Townsville law courts, has announced it will close on November 26.
Owner Linda Churchill said it was a sad time and the end of an era. “It’s a bit of an institution. I think it’s been going as a restaurant or cafe for over 40 years,” Ms Churchill said.
She said the property’s owners had decided to turn the building into office space, so she had to close.
After operating the cafe for 10 years, Ms Churchill said she had decided to put her feet up and not look for an alternative location.
“I have certainly enjoyed my time here and have made great friends feeding them. It’s going to be a sad time.”
Ms Churchill said that before she operated the shop it used to be called The Last Chance cafe.
“That was the first thing I did, change the name. I thought it was a little bit negative,” Ms Churchill said.
The local cafe hit the headlines earlier this year with its approach to the coronavirus pandemic, putting up a sign that read “North Queensland residents ONLY”.
At the time, Ms Churchill said the sign was intended to protect her regulars from the pandemic.
“(I heard) all the stories about all the Victorians pouring across the border and getting in there and everywhere, and because the majority of my customers are regulars, I just wanted to protect my business,” Ms Churchill said.
When asked how she identified a North Queensland resident, Ms Churchill laughed and said “just by looking at them”, although she admitted the sign wasn’t intended to be “all that serious”.
But she said it had put off a few backpackers from entering. Soon that will be the case for everyone.
That was the f irst thing I did, change the name.