‘It’s time’: Melbourne’s International Cakes closes for good after 60 years

A Melbourne institution — the last remaining bakery in the city’s Greek Quarter — has closed its doors after 60 years.

Melbourne institution International Cakes – the last remaining bakery in the city’s Greek Quarter – has closed its doors after 60 years.

The family-run Lonsdale St cafe, owned by Bill Batzogiannis and his former business partner Manolis Yovanoglou, announced that it would serve its last pastries on Monday night. It made tge announcement in a message posted to its door last week.

“We have cherished the relationships we have built with each and every one of our loyal customers and are sincerely grateful for your continued support throughout the years,” it read.

“Your trust and loyalty in our brand has been a driving force behind our successes and we are deeply appreciative.

“It has been an honour to serve you and be a part of your lives.”

Melbourne institution International Cakes has closed its doors after 60 years. Picture: Google Maps

Owner Bill Batzogiannis said it was ‘time for retirement’. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Mr Batzogiannis told the Herald Sun he’d first considered shutting up shop five years ago, just before the pandemic – ultimately deciding to stick around a bit longer.

“This city suffered so much (during lockdown), I had to go on,” he said.

Now, though, the 75-year-old, who grew up in Katerini, Greece, before moving to Melbourne in the 1960s, is ready to hang up his apron.

“I’m OK, I wanted to stop working. It’s time for retirement,” Mr Batzogiannis said.

The family-run Lonsdale St cafe announced that it would serve its last pastries on Monday night with customers in a message posted to its door. Picture: Instagram

The response from customers in the days since finding out “has been unbelievable”.

“Ever since they found out we were closing they’ve come and bought all of our cakes,” Mr Batzogiannis said.

“They’ve grown up here … the many thousands of customers who have ordered cakes. I’ve had the sweetest customers.”

The response from customers in the days since finding out ‘has been unbelievable’, Mr Batzogiannis said. Picture: Instagram

Customers on social media deemed the cafe’s closure ‘the end of an era’, saying it was ‘actually devastating’. Picture: Instagram

It was a sentiment expressed on social media, as well, with many describing International Cakes’ closure as “the end of an era”.

“So sad! Been going there since I was a baby with my family,” one customer wrote.

“So saddened to hear this … A very special place of good cakes, coffee and family time, Bless you and wish you well,” another commented.

“Another one bites the dust. Sad to see an iconic place go,” a third said.

“Actually devastating.”