Covent Garden London
The heart of London's West End
Frank's Café
Frank's Café was taken over by my father, Alfonso Ruocco, in 1966 from Franco Veniconte - a fellow villager from Minori on the Amalfi coast, south of Naples - who started it 40 years earlier. In the early days, much of our trade came from market traders and porters. Now, we have a handful of regular customers, but over the years they have become fewer and fewer. Many of our customers now are builders, office workers, tourists and even the odd famous celebrity like John Thaw.
We believe in giving our customers value for money and good, friendly service. We know there is still a need for a good, wholesome, traditional café in a street which has become full of trendy fashion shops, many of which come and go every six months.
Frank's Café is a family-run business, which has become increasingly more difficult to look after in the last 10 years, especially since my father passed away in 1988. We are constantly fighting the high rent and business rates in order to keep our little business going.
Neal Street is special because everyone has heard of it. Many people are drawn to its attractions, but that, in turn, drives up the rent - a vicious circle. I like Covent Garden because of its unique and cosmopolitan atmosphere. I have always lived in Covent Garden and love it here. I am still holding on, although the constantly increasing rents look likely to push us out sooner rather than later.
Trofimena Ruocco-Deufemia
Covent Garden Community Association Annual Report 2000-2001
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