CAFE VIVALDI is a Peel Street institution with Italian inspiration that new owners Dinesh Goyal and Neha Singla hope to bring a fresh feel to.
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The couple took on ownership of Cafe Vivaldi on August 9, the first day of Tamworth's lockdown, but despite the rocky start they say it's been smooth sailing since businesses were given the green light to reopen.
"We survived the lockdown period, so now it's back to normal, fingers crossed it stays like that," Mr Goyal said.
After spending more than a decade in Melbourne, Mr Goyal made the move to Tamworth in 2019 and has worked at multiple local hospitality venues including West Tamworth Leagues Club, Pig & Tinder Box, The Courthouse Hotel, Oporto, Nectar Fresh and Imperial Hotel.
It's the 33-year-old's first attempt at running his own business and he hopes to bring "a modern touch" to Tamworth's main drag.
Five years working at Baci, a 24-hour Italian cafe at Melbourne's Crown Casino, gave him a taste for Italian food, and it's something he feels Peel Street is lacking.
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"I was missing that Italian touch on Peel Street," he said.
"Baci is where I got that taste for Italian food, from there I've worked in other Italian restaurants so I've always had an Italian taste in my mind."
The cafe has been completely renovated with modern touches while keeping a "rustic feel".
"We brought the counter to the front, got a new till system, online ordering, brought some more range to the menu," he said.
"People love the new menu, they love the food, they think it's fresh and tastes great so I've already got returning customers which is a positive sign for the business."
Cafe Vivaldi is currently open for breakfast and lunch, but the new owners plan to obtain a liquor license and introduce an Italian inspired dinner menu.
The venue has the capacity to host five tables with ten to 15 people dining on the street.
Since reopening, the new owners have hired six staff members and three chefs, but hope to expand to ten to 12 full time staff when business picks up and open more hospitality venues in the future.
"I always wanted to open my own pub and do something for everybody - from age 18 to 60 to 70," Mr Goyal said.
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