AMALFI COAST BROUGHT TO DERBY
CAFÉ BOSS REALISES HIS 20-YEAR DREAM,
A NEW café from the owners of Grand Café Caruso is to open in Derby city centre next week.
Italian brothers Marcello and Tony Perretta have been running the multi-award-winning café in Burrows Walk just inside Derbion, since 1993.
They also have a sister café called Café Caruso Boutique, located in St Peter’s Mall, with both specialising in a hybrid of Italian and British cuisine.
Now, after nearly two decades of planning, they will be opening a third café opposite the Post Office, in Babington Lane, on Monday.
It is called Café Villabella and has been named after Marcello’s daughter Bella, who works for the family business as social media and customer relations administrator.
Marcello recalled the “endless and complicated journey” which will finally see him fulfil his dream of opening a café inspired by the Italian Riviera.
He said: “During the early years of our explosive success, I was on holiday with my wife Sarah and little son Vinnie (now the manager of Villabella).
“I am lucky enough to have been born and spent the first 18 years of my life in one of the most idyllic places on earth, the Amalfi Coast.
“Whilst dining in an amazing café in the most captivating and mesmerising atmosphere, overtaken by the moment I said to Sarah ‘wouldn’t it be amazing if I could capture this setting and recreate it in a café in Derby.’
“My dream was to create the perfect southern Italian café, an idyllic environment serving original Italian products! I am an advocator of the Italian slow food society; I want to sell an emotion emphasising the quality of service and product all enveloped in a warm and captivating environment.
“I knew that in order to achieve this I had to purchase the building and that came in the form of part of the old theatre building (the old Brindley’s shop) which had been laying empty for many years.
“The state of the building was your worst nightmare – dilapidated and hosting hundreds of pigeons; however the core of the character I was seeking was there!
“I knew that in order to transform that mess into my heartfelt design I would have to undertake the conversion my self.”
After buying the building, Marcello set about transforming it into the café to reflect a similar style to the one he visited on holiday nearly 20 years ago.
Marcello went on to explain why the building’s major renovation has taken several years to complete.
“The limited funding meant I had to tackle this colossal task in various stages,” he said. “First of which was to involve the city council to inspect the forthcoming technical works. The internal structure had to be altered, this involved digging masses of concrete to bring the ground floor level, the part omission of the first and second floor to create a balcony style view and breaking through some walls to integrate all the separate floors in to one.
“The second stage was endless, much like a giant jigsaw, piece by piece it had to come together and, by the end, I was rewarded by achieving what was originally in my head and heart, all done with my own hands.
“The reason why this project has taken such a long time is attributed to the cost of the whole development.
“I had to pay the monthly mortgage as well as empty property rates each year, add the cost of materials and technical fees and one can understand the chronological delay.
“Now in 2021, the first chapter of my journey is fulfilled. I have created the canvas to welcome the evolvement of the perfect Italian café.
“I would not have been to achieve all this without the help of my wife Sarah. She has been of a most vital support taking care of all administrative and troublesome work.
“We will be opening to the public officially on Monday, September 13, serving a huge range of drinks, cakes, and in a few weeks’ time some finger food.
“We shall open on Thursday, September 9 and serve limited free drinks for the following three days. This promotion is aimed to our current customers at the Grand Café Caruso and our followers on social media – of course if anyone turns up we shall honour the endorsement; however it is not for the general public.
“Later in the year, when our friendly Italian chef adorns our team, we shall shine in our full glory and finally... mission achieved.”