A much-loved Halkett Place café is up for sale after its devoted owners said “impossible” visa processes and the strain of juggling two businesses made it too difficult to keep going.
Roxana Hiniu and her business partner Viorel Ungureanu are looking to finish on a high as their pride-and-joy Roseville Café readies itself for a new chapter under fresh owners.
The current co-owners, who “put their heart” into the cosy café since setting it up in October 2024, have said that “family life” sometimes has to take precedent.
Dreamt up as a sister-cafe to the better-known Roseville Bistro in Havre De Pas, the spot attracted a loyal following and a slew of five-star online reviews.
But juggling both the cafe and the bistro, she says, proved to be too much of a strain – especially on Viorel, who acted as head chef across both ventures.
A “hard decision” was made to prioritise the beloved bistro, allowing Viorel more family time and Roxana a chance to leave the island and pursue exams relating to public relations.
Speaking to Express, Roxana stressed that the cafe was a “beautiful space” that would be “perfect for someone who can dedicate themselves fully to it, while Vio continues focusing on the Bistro and his family.”
“We are not closing and we are not going bust,” she said. “We’re simply looking for the right person to take over something we’ve built with a lot of love and care.”
Roxana explained: “We are looking to sell the cafe, as I’ll be leaving the island.
“With my departure, Vio, who is the heart behind the amazing food you all enjoy, would otherwise have to divide his time between the cafe, the Bistro, and his family life.
“That would simply be too much for one person to manage long term.”
Islander Marian Ilie told Express he hoped to see a “new place open soon” in place of the cafe he loved visiting with his Romanian friends.
The new owners, Roxana said, will inherit a “lovely place.”
“I’m sure someone who doesn’t have a young family and another business to run would do a great job,” she added.
She explained that running both operations wasn’t helped by difficulties encountered when hiring chefs to ease the burden on Viorel.
“Once the work permit is issued, the employee needs to apply for his visa with it,” she explained.
“We thought it was going to be six-to-eight weeks to get a visa – it turned out to be more than three months.
“You get someone a nine-month visa, it takes three months to properly train him and be comfortable with him to do the job as you want him to do it.”
Fortunately for islanders, the cafe hasn’t been sold just yet and customers can still enjoy a menu packed full of innovate Egg Benedict variations, English breakfasts and traditional Romanian dishes.
Roxana said: “Thank you so much for all your continued support. It really means the world to us, and we look forward to welcoming you as always.”
WATCH…
Roxana shared a video message with Roseville Café customers…