The long-term co-owner of Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar, Nino Pangrazio, will work his final day at the Bourke Street institution on October 31 – nine days before the anniversary of the death of his former business partner and beloved restaurateur Sisto Malaspina.
Nino Pangrazio, who co-owned Pellegrini's with beloved restaurateur Sisto Malaspina since 1974, will retire next week.Credit: Eddie Jim
Mr Pangrazio on Tuesday confirmed Sisto’s son David would purchase Sisto’s 50 per cent share in Pellegrini’s and take control of the restaurant’s day-to-day operations after Mr Pangrazio retires next week.
Mr Pangrazio’s departure will mark the first time in 45 years that neither he nor Sisto have worked in Pellegrini’s, after the duo bought the restaurant from the Pellegrini brothers in 1974.
Mr Pangrazio, 82, had reduced his workload to three days a week last year as he moved towards retirement.
However he had been forced to double his hours working in the restaurant since the death of Sisto, who was killed by terrorist Hassan Khalif Shire Ali on Bourke Street on November 9 last year.
"I’ve enjoyed every bit of it. We’ve got wonderful customers, and great staff too. They’ve got your back the whole time," he told The Age.
Pellegrini's in 1989.Credit: Andrew De La Rue
Mr Pangrazio said he occasionally discussed selling Pellegrini’s with Sisto before his death.
"People would come along, and Sisto would say ‘I don’t want to go yet’, ‘if we go we go together’ and things like that."
Still a lively presence in the restaurant most days, Mr Pangrazio said he loved working at Pellegrini’s but couldn’t go forever at his age.
David has operated Italian restaurant Spaghetti Tree, located across the road from Pellegrini’s, with his mother and Sisto’s widow, Vicky, since 1988.
Sisto Malaspina and Nino Pangrazio at Pellegrini's in 2014. Credit: City of Melbourne
Sisto, then 74, became a grandfather to David’s son just a week before his death last year. He was walking to purchase flowers and chocolates to celebrate with staff when he was stabbed by Shire Ali, triggering an outpouring of tributes and a state funeral for Sisto.
Mr Pangrazio said he informed staff of the changeover on Tuesday morning and many were shocked.
Pellegrini’s cake maker Lucia D’amico is organising a fundraising event at the Calabria Club in Bulla, in Melbourne’s north-west, on November 9 to mark one year since Sisto’s death.
Mr Pangrazio said he and Sisto met in the 1960s while working in hospitality and “we just gelled”.
Mr Pangrazio worked in the separate Pellegrini’s restaurant - since sold off - while Sisto operated the espresso bar almost identically to how it appears today.
"Sisto being Sisto, the flamboyant one and everything, he took over in there," said Mr Pangrazio.
"The customers loved him. I was in the background a little bit. I like working in the kitchen, but he was out there, flamboyant Sisto."
Mr Pangrazio said he and Sisto enjoyed a harmonious 44-year working relationship.
"We had the odd spat, but nothing major at all. Nothing major. We were very lucky, and very lucky with our great staff."
David could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.