A cafe owner who has fed customers in Fitzrovia for more than 30 years sold her last lunch on Friday 24 June and shut up shop for the last time.

People standing in front of cafe.
Pictured from left to right: Teresa, Joannna, Barbie, Slava, Mark, and Albert.

Slava, who took over the Cafe Rive Gauche in Warren Street 31 years ago, spoke with fondness about her time in the neighbourhood.

Notice in window.
A notice in the window of the cafe thanks customers and bids them “au revoir”.

“It’s been a fantastic time in a lovely area with lovely customers,” said Slava.

The owner of the building had served notice on the cafe and has plans to redevelop the building. But Slava told Fitzrovia News that she had no regrets about having to leave.

“The job is very stressful and the pace of life here is so much quicker than it used to be. I feel sad that I have to go but I didn’t plan to stay much longer. It’s time to go. It’s sad but in some ways it is a relief,” she said.