A family who ran a successful café looks to new beginnings as they say goodbye to their customers.

Rustic Café & Bistro in Station Approach, South Oxhey, is now under new management after the Karapinar family had their last day at the shop on June 25.

Café manager Sinan Karapinar, 22, said he saw customers as “part of the family”.

Watford Observer: Sinan Karapinar (centre) said the family will miss the customers.Sinan Karapinar (centre) said the family will miss the customers. (Image: Sinan Karapinar)

His family has run the café for two years and Sinan’s father had been in the restaurant industry for 25 years.

They are planning to open a new one in Kent and will start “from zero”, Sinan said.

Sinan, who lives in South Oxhey with his family, added: “It’s really hard to say goodbye. Some of our customers were nearly in tears when we told them we were leaving and asked us to stay.

“When we came here, we felt like this was our home and the customers were so nice to us.”

Despite the impending move, Sinan said there is always a chance the family could move back to Hertfordshire one day.

Watford Observer: Rustic Café & Bistro, South OxheyRustic Café & Bistro, South Oxhey (Image: Google Street View)

He added: “I want to thank the customers for all their support and love throughout.

“We have had a lovely time working in Watford as a family and appreciate all the love customers have given us.

“We love South Oxhey, we still might move back to the area later down the line.”

Sinan described one of his fondest memories of elderly customers “bringing us chocolates and flowers when they came to say thank you”.

The new managers, who started on June 27, told the Watford Observer about some of the changes that will be introduced.

Asil Karim, who also runs the Picnic Café in Eastcote, said: “We are a family-run business too and are family of the owner.”

He added Rustic Café & Bistro will have a chef joining them from their Eastcote business who also has experience working in a central London Italian restaurant.

The menu will soon include spaghetti bolognese, lasagne, and will all be homemade food.