An iconic Fortitude Valley institution is to make a comeback when the inaugural Valley Laneways Markets kick off this Sunday, August 8.
The California Cafe, which began in 1951 in the Carol’s Corner building on the corner of Brunswick and McLachlan streets, was run by George Apostolos (pictured above) for just over a half century until it sadly closed its doors almost a decade ago.
His son Charlie, told The Independent this week: “It’s coming back in the laneways markets for six weeks until we can bring it back permanently.” He was coy about where the cafe’s temporary home would be, adding: “People will just have to walk around the markets and find it!”.
The Valley Laneways Markets will operate each Sunday from some of the little-known laneways close to the Valley’s heart. When the California Cafe closed, many of its original 1950s features, including the faux marble laminex tables and chairs, anodised metal milkshakes containers, oval plates and sugar bowls were retained in anticipation of a return one day.
Charlie says there are only about 10 of the monster plates left that George and his staff used for their famous “mixed grill” meals that legend had it stumped the hungriest and the largest of truckies.
Charlie said the new markets would help create pedestrian flow around the Valley heart. “We love the Valley and think it’s special. “We want to complement the existing weekend mall markets; not compete with them.”
