The Entrance: Tributes flow for beloved Golden Gate Cafe owner Johnny Adilinis who died aged 92

Johnny Adilinis was a mainstay of The Entrance for more than 70 years, beloved by generations of families who flocked to his Golden Gate Cafe for milkshakes, lollies and pineapple crushes.

Tributes are flowing for Golden Gate Cafe owner Johnny Adilinis, 92, of The Entrance, who passed away after a brief illness. Picture: supplied.

Tributes are flowing for beloved cafe owner Johnny Adilinis who passed away after a brief and unexpected illness on Tuesday, January 17, aged 92.

Mr Adilinis immigrated to Australia in the 1940s in his early teens and lived at Maroubra before his sister Lola and her husband Dennis Raft purchased the Golden Gate Cafe at The Entrance in 1952.

Mr Adilinis worked in the shop before buying a share in 1955, during what is widely referred to as the golden era for The Entrance.

The seaside suburb was the holiday destination of choice for thousands of families who made their way up from Sydney by bus or train.

The Entrance had it all – carnivals, bingo, fishing, swimming, dancing, a picture theatre and five supermarkets.

Tributes are flowing for beloved shopkeeper Johnny Adilinis, of the Golden Gate Cafe at The Entrance, who died aged 92. Picture: Therese Raft/Facebook

It was a time when a Greek cafe could be found in every country town, serving milkshakes, mixed grills and sundaes.

The Golden Gate Cafe was the place to go at The Entrance. Situated opposite the Prince Edward Theatre, the cafe was packed day and night. Pineapple crushes were in huge demand.

Mr Adilinis was known for his generosity with lollies. Picture: Therese Raft/Facebook

They were the days. Incredibly, not a lot changed for Mr Adilinis who was known for his generosity with lollies.

Mr Adilinis’ great niece Therese Raft — Lola’s granddaughter — said the outpouring of emotion from as far as Forbes in the west and Queensland to news of his passing had been “overwhelming”.

(L-R) John Adilinis, his sister Lola Raft and her husband Dennis ran The Golden Gate Cafe at The Entrance.

She said Covid restrictions saw the popular cafe closed for much of 2020 and 2021, before it was closed permanently in March last year when Mr Adilinis officially retired.

Despite the cafe being shut for nearly a year, people have begun leaving flowers out the front in tribute of Mr Adilinis, such was his impact in the community.

“He really spent his whole life there,” Ms Raft said.

“He was an active and much loved member of the community for over 70 years. While leaving the shop was a difficult decision, Johnny knew it was time. The shop simply wasn’t the same without his sister.

“We’ve had three generations of families contact us, he knew everyone, he had nicknames for everyone. It is the end of an era.”

John Adilinis at The Golden Gate Cafe.

The original cafe was opened opposite the then Prince Edward Theatre by an astute businessman named Mantons in 1933 after his first cafe burned down.

He operated the cafe for some years until he sold to an American who renamed it the Golden Gate Cafe.

It was then bought by Nick and Thea Lourandos in the 1940s before a young Dennis and Lola Raft joined as partners in 1952.

In 1955 Lola’s brother Johnny bought the Lourandos’ share.

Funeral details will be made available when they are confirmed and there is already talk of establishing a permanent tribute to Mr Adilinis at The Entrance.

John Adilinis serving customers at The Golden Gate Cafe (Johnny's).

A younger Johnny Adilinis. Picture: Therese Raft/Facebook

John Adilinis has been remembered as an icon of The Entrance. Picture: Peter Clark