END OF LOUIS’ REIGN
A CARDIFF restaurant that has been trading for more than 60 years has closed overnight.
Customers were yesterday shocked to find The Louis Restaurant, on St Mary Street, had closed with immediate effect. The owners said they had to close after the lease expired.
Staff were reportedly called on Wednesday night to be told the news. Yesterday, a sign on the restaurant said: “It is with regret that we have to advise our customers that following the expiring of the lease that The Louis has had to close. We would like to take the opportunity of thanking our customers for their past support and wish them the best of good fortune in the future.”
The restaurant, which is famed for its green canopy sign with gold writing, was owned by the Italian Carpanini family and opened its doors for the first time 63 years ago in 1954.
Customers turning up yesterday morning, couldn’t believe it had closed. The restaurant served traditional food and had a loyal following of customers.
Gill White, 78, and Marion Carpenter, 79, had been going to The Louis for the past 15 years.
Mrs White travels down from Treherbert in the Rhondda to meet sisterin-law Marion every month. The first they heard of the closure, was when they read the sign outside.
Mrs White said: “I’ve travelled down from Treherbert to come here and meet Marion. It’s very, very sad to see it has closed. It’s a very popular place.
“Some of our friends meet here all the time – for as long as it has been open in Cardiff.”
Chris Stuart had planned to meet his brother at the restaurant, when he spotted the sign. The 68-year-old said: “I’ve been coming here for more than 40 years, but some of my friends from church have been coming here since it opened. It’s terrible to hear of the closure – I meet my brother here for coffee all the time. We always say: ‘Oh we’ll meet at The Louis.’ It’s an institution.”
Another 76-year-old lady, who was due to meet friends at the restaurant said: “My friend rang me and said ‘you’re not going to like what I’m about to tell you.’ I just had to come over and see for myself.
“I’ve been coming here for more than 30 years and I used to come here with both my husband and my mother before they died. I can’t believe it – I feel quite upset, and I know hundreds of other people will feel the same.”
A local businessman, who didn’t want to be named, said: “I was quite friendly with the owners and spoke to them recently. They gave no indication they were going to close. It’s very sad to see somewhere that’s been around for so long go. It’s a real Cardiff institution.”
Adrian Field, executive director of Cardiff Business Improvement District, said: “It is always sad when a landmark business closes. The Louis has been part of the fibre of the city for many generations and will be missed by many.”
The restaurant owners have been contacted for comment.