Famous for serving up homestyle cooking and Devonshire teas from a retro-style restaurant in Harris Scarfe, the town icon is preparing to close its doors for good on August 11.

Co-owner Rhonda Talbot, also known as ‘the frog-in-a-pond lady on the PA’, has worked in the cafe since 1975 and owned the business since 2010.

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“It’s been a 42-year journey for me - two thirds of my life I’ve spent in this building - and it’s been a very successful business and still is,” Mrs Talbot said. 

“Between all of the staff we have here, which is a small group, we have over 100 years experience in this industry and I don’t think there’s anywhere else in Launceston which could boast that.

“I think this is the last of its kind - a cafeteria-style restaurant in Australia - this will never happen again, it’s part of history.”

Mrs Talbot said health complications and Harris Scarfe’s impending renovations contributed to her decision to close the business. 

“Because of the time difference from when this place was originally built to now’s standards, a lot has changed within council and there’s TasWater involved with grease traps and grease pits.

“So it’s a combination of things you’ve got to weigh up and make final decisions on… unfortunately this is not an easy one at all.”

Named after the FitzGerald department store which preceded Harris Scarfe, Fitzies opened in 1972 under Eric Hayes, and was run by Mike Edwards between 1990 and 2010. 

From day dot the business has had a charm for attracting fiercely loyal staff and customers, including a Trevallyn mothers group which has been meeting at the cafe for more than four decades. 

Lorraine French said Fitzies’ unique family feel had kept her turning up to work for the past 22 years.

“For only three people to have owned the business... it’s almost like a family business,” Mrs French said.

“Our strong point has been our loyal customers, we see the same people coming in week in, week out.

“Only yesterday I saw a mother with her daughter that I’ve seen grow up and she had a child, so three generations.”

Everything in the store, including the iconic neon signs, will be auctioned at Armitage Auctions in August. 

Mrs Talbot said she expected the restaurant would be sorely missed by customers and staff alike. 

“I think the elderly people of Launceston are going to be devastated that there’s nowhere else like it in Launceston to go.

“Honestly we all just feel for our customers that have supported us, we want to thank them very much.

“There’s lots of regulars that come just for a social chat and a cup of coffee and they feel better for the day - so we’re going to have to find somewhere to go and do that ourselves.”