A FAMILY-RUN Mauchline business is celebrating an incredible 90 years of serving the community.

Angelo and Natalina Vanni opened up the Castle Cafe way back in 1930, and ever since, their descendants have kept the business going, with four different generations of the family managing the cafe.

The Castle Cafe has become somewhat of a Mauchline institution since its establishment way back during the Great Depression and the current team at the cafe were keen to thank all their customers down the years for supporting them.

Cumnock Chronicle: From left to right: Mick Mullen, Natalina Vanni and Vanda Mullen.From left to right: Mick Mullen, Natalina Vanni and Vanda Mullen.

Leona Smillie and her sister Colette Mullen, are the latest descendants of the Vanni’s to be running the cafe.

Leona said: “Thank you to all our wonderful customers that have kept us going over these 90 years. We’ve seen loads of businesses come and go, we’ve seen folk coming in from when they were kids and seeing them grow up, it’s wonderful to have been here for so long, a big thank you.”

Leona said that, whilst they did not know the exact date at which the Cafe first opened, they had been planning a celebration for some point this year, but plans were scuppered by coronavirus. That’s not put her off though and next year will see “a big celebration for our 91st year in business.”

Despite being inaugurated as the Castle Cafe, it was known as Mick’s Cafe for a period of time after Leona and Colette’s grandfather Mick Mullen. It reverted to The Castle Cafe some years ago now.

Leona has many fond memories of the Cafe when she was growing up and sees it remaining in the family for some time yet too, with he nine-year-old son Tristan already announcing his plans to take over the family-business, after he learnt that they sold thousands of sweets.

The Cafe had been shut for the lockdown period and reopened on Thursday, September 3.