Flamboyant Adelaide cafe owner, lord mayoral aspirant Aneste ‘Arnie’ Rossis dies from cancer, aged 67

ONE of Adelaide’s most colourful characters, former cafe owner and lord mayoral aspirant Aneste “Arnie” Rossis has died from cancer, aged 67.

Arnie Rossis has owned several cafes around town and ran several times for lord mayor. He is angry at council decision not to build cafes in Vic Square. Pics of him in the square (and I am trying to get permission to use Hilton bar balcony)

ONE of Adelaide’s most colourful characters, former cafe owner and lord mayoral aspirant Aneste “Arnie” Rossis has died from cancer, aged 67.

Rossis ran the Adelaide Town Hall cafe for many years, where he became a thorn in the side of the bureaucracy only metres from his well-patronised coffee machine.

He moved to Rymill Park to operate a lakeside kiosk which became a hugely popular weekend gathering place for city residents and parklands visitors.

Rossis contested the lord mayoral contest four times, his campaigns punctuated by his widespread doorknocking and enthusiastic approach.

Always amiable, the constantly smiling dappily-dressed entrepreneur would carry a notebook, fastidiously taking down ratepayer moans, groans and requests.

Arnie Rossis with his cowbell for the Tour Down Under in 1999. Picture: ROY VAN DER VEGT

Rossis was intensely passionate about Adelaide — and its prosperity.

Among his many ideas for the city were turning the Adelaide Gaol into a backpacker hostel, planting market gardens in the city surrounds, freezing the Rymill Park lake for winter ice-skating and converting the former Victoria Square toilet block into a cafe called LuLu.

“I took on locations that were deemed unworkable,” Rossis told The Advertiser in 2012, after he handed over the management of the Rymill Park kiosk due to health problems.

In 2010, Rossis was diagnosed with multiple myeloma (cancer of the bone marrow) and amyloidosis, a protein build-up disease so rare it affects only three in one million people.

Despite his health setback, he still visited the CBD every day.

“It’s like oxygen and water… I need to be in touch with the city.”

Arnie Rossis when the Rymill Lake — drained for maintenance — was refilled. Picture: Roy Van Der Vegt

Rossis always attributed his people-loving nature to his Mediterranean lineage.

Born on the Greek island of Rhodes, he migrated to Adelaide with his family at age six in 1955. The Rossis settled in the southwestern corner of the city.

It was here the youngster roamed the parklands, discovered historic architecture, trams and stables, and met “the wonderful characters who lived here during the early ’60s.”

Arnie Rossis (right) on the campaign trail in 2000.

Arnie Rossis with his campaign slogan at his kiosk.

At the age of eight, Rossis began working at the Adelaide Central Market’s Fair Deal Leather Store, where he sold string shopping bags for ‘two and six pence’.

Soon after, he took on a second job at Con Bambacas’ grocery store on Sturt Street and at 12, began working in Rundle Street’s Tropical Coffee Lounge.

An engineering course at Chrysler’s Apprentice Training Center (at what is now the Le Cornu site at Keswick) and an apprenticeship in construction and building at Marleston TAFE followed.

From helping friends set up Pedro’s Pizza Bar on Goodwood Road (1970s), Rossis’ first job was building the Iliad restaurant next to Whitmore Square (1970 to 1972).

Arnie Rossis at Rymill Park. Picture: Roy Van Der Vegt

In the early ’90s, he ran the Old Parliament House Restaurant and The Town Hall Cafe behind the Town Hall with brother Michael, where he remained until taking the Rymill Park Kiosk reins in 1998,.

A year later he returned to Iliad, which he later helped to run with pal Theo Palaxides until 2001.

Lord Mayor Martin Haese paid tribute to Arnie, saying he was a passionate advocate for the City of Adelaide, who made an immeasurable contribution.

“He was a true entrepreneur and a great character,” Mr Haese said.

“Arnie interacted with many thousands of city residents, tourists and business owners over

the years through his work and campaigns.

“Many people, including myself, are sad to hear that Arnie has passed away.”

He is survived by his wife Katina, daughters Ester and Leah, and grandchildren Lucy and Joshua.