The end of an era for iconic Melbourne cafe chain Brunetti as brothers split business and vision
In the end of an era for Melbourne's latte sippers, Italian cafe chain Brunetti today announced the business would be splitting into two different arms: Brunetti Classico and Brunetti Oro. Brothers Fabio and Yuri Angelé will assume sole ownership of each arm.
A Melbourne byword for strong espresso, proper gelato and elaborately decorated cakes packed into red carry-boxes, Brunetti's reach expanded well beyond its original Lygon Street location that Piero Brunetti opened in 1974.
By 1985 it had moved to a multi-shopfront space in nearby Faraday Street, before the Angelé family purchased the business in 1991. The last decade was marked by even greater expansion.
In 2013, the cafe returned to its original home on Lygon Street with a new purpose-built, no-expense-spared fit-out featuring domed ceilings, marble and terrazzo, as well as stand-up espresso bars and a wall of cake cabinets facing passersby.
A smaller cafe situated at City Square was superseded in 2017 by a sprawling Flinders Lane location, offering pizza, hot meals and deli goods across an entire block. There are also cafes in the domestic and international terminals of Melbourne Airport, and in Singapore.
Today's announcement confirms that the Carlton and CBD flagships are now owned by two separate companies. The Carlton location is part of Fabio Angelé's Brunetti Classico, along with the airport locations, which will each continue to offer the menus and products people know and love.
Yuri's half of the business includes Flinders Lane, a cafe within Myer's CBD store and an outpost in Singapore. Named Brunetti Oro, it appears that big changes could be on the horizon for this part of the Brunetti empire.
"Whilst staying true to our culture and Italian heritage, Brunetti Oro represents the new generation bringing to life an Italian tradition with a twist on the old, and a touch of the new," said Yuri in a statement.
"It's time for the two sons to sail their own ships," said a spokeswoman. "The business has grown to such a level that it was a good time to distinguish between the visions each brother has."
It's understood that each business is currently working on future projects and strategies, with plans to be unveiled in the coming months.
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Emma Breheny – Emma is Good Food's Melbourne-based reporter and co-editor of The Age Good Food Guide 2024.