Cosmin Stuparu was one of three operators affected by the remarketing of five cafes in Hampstead, Highgate and Queen’s Park last year.
All were trading on short term ‘tenancies at will’ and were invited to bid for longer leases in an open tender run by Heath managers The City of London Corporation.
Cosmin was one of 30 bidders, but while he lost out to Aussie-inspired chain Daisy Green for the lease of his cafe in Golders Hill Park, he made the winning bid for a 10-year lease on the Pavilion Cafe in Highgate Wood.
The issue has generated a legal challenge by Hoxton Beach who manage the cafes in Highgate Wood, Parliament Hill Lido and Queen’s Park.
After losing their bid for all three, the Kentish Town brand raised a 25,000-strong petition and crowdfunded fees to apply for a judicial review – arguing the tender process was unfair.
Cosmin, who has run the cafe in Golders Hill Park for 15 years after taking over from an Italian family, says he can’t move forward with staff contracts and buying supplies because the legal case has put everything on hold.
But he and partner Claudia Orascu are assuring customers they are not leaving the Heath but will be serving their trademark ice-cream and homemade Italian dishes at a new location.
“From my perspective as a business manager it is better to go from a tenancy at will to a contract for the next 10 years in another building where I can plan to make improvements to the cafe for customers,” he said.
“People say Golders Hill Park is my cafe but all these buildings are owned by the City of London Corporation and the cafes belong to the community – we are just running them.
“I see it like applying for a job – I lost my bid by a narrow margin but Daisy Green must have done their due diligence and their bid was better.
“I was disappointed but I don’t put the blame on anyone, the process was rigorous and fair – you have to move on.”
Cosmin says he’s built “a reputation and strong ties” with his customers in Golders Hill Park who queue up for homemade Italian gelato and dishes such as lasagne, along with sandwiches, cakes, fresh soups and salads.
And he’s expecting customers to travel across north London with many pledging to support his new business.
“I am the only one out of all the cafes to make my own ice-cream and people queue up for it,” he says proudly.
“I love working in a park and I love the community around here, they are peaceful people and they will follow us.
“Our family-run business is ready to carry on what we have started in Golders Hill Park when we move to another building.
“We are committed to replicating our success by offering a warm and friendly environment focusing on providing excellent customer service and becoming an integral part of the local community.”
