After more than two decades at the helm of one of East Maitland’s best known restaurants, Irene and Beppi Tonon have called it a day.
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![CHANGE: Irene and Beppi Tonon have handed over the reins for the New Capri, East Maitland, which they have owned and operated for 24 years. Picture: Marina Neil CHANGE: Irene and Beppi Tonon have handed over the reins for the New Capri, East Maitland, which they have owned and operated for 24 years. Picture: Marina Neil](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/tmUaC97GWTfBTvbgiBtbEs/87381730-8a38-4ae4-b8f9-2585b18ce464.jpg/r0_504_4633_3109_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The husband and wife have handed the reins of New Capri, over to former customer Carolyn Bower and her business partner Mellisa Matchett on Friday.
Mrs Tonon said the decision to retire had come at a point in their lives when her husband was experiencing the increasing effects of dementia.
“It’s a very sad time to be quite truthful,” she said. “It’s been my life for 24 years. That’s a long time.”
Mrs Tonon said the friendships she had struck up with customers and staff members had been a major highlight of running the family business.
“I don’t have to go to a pub or club for entertainment – I come here,” she said. “[The customers] have been the biggest part of my life.”
She said, after spending six days a week at the restaurant for 24 years, retirement would take some getting used to. So she will pop in and give the new owners a hand every now and then.