Tributes have been paid to owner of the Scandinavia Cafe, Gaspare Palermo, who died on Sunday.
One of Luton’s best-loved institutions, the Scandinavia Cafe was run by Gaspare and his wife Teresa for many years.
In October, it won our sister paper the Luton News’s Cafe of the Year award. The eaterie closed its doors in January after 43 years when Gaspare was diagnosed with cancer.
A statement from his family on the cafe’s Facebook page said: “Sadly Gazza passed away Sunday 22nd March at 1pm.
“It was sudden, as we thought we had longer. All the family was with him. Thank you again for all your support. The Palermo family.” Tributes have since flooded in.
Wendy Walker posted: “It is hard to believe we will never see Gaspare delivering his food again, his apron flapping and always a cheery smile and hello with his deep rich Mediterranean voice. Such a solid long standing backbone of our community.”