Wikipedia

User:Wittylama/Paragon

< User:Wittylama
Paragon Cafe
Map
Restaurant information
Established1916 (1916)
Closed2018 (2018)
Previous owner(s)Simos family
Street address65 Katoomba Street
CityKatoomba
StateNew South Wales
Postal/ZIP Code2780
CountryAustralia
Coordinates33°42′52″S 150°18′37″E / 33.7143993°S 150.3103038°E / -33.7143993; 150.3103038
Websitehttp://theparagonkatoomba.com.au/

The Paragon Cafe is a restaurant and confectioners in the Blue Mountains town of Katoomba, Australia. It formerly trading as The Paragon Cafe and Oyster Palace and The Paragon Sundae and Candy Shop.

It was founded in 1916 by the 19 year old Greek-Australian Zacharaias Simos who had migrated from Kythira in 1912.[1] It was owned and operated by Zacherias, then his wife Mary (née Maria Panaretos from Elkton, Maryland USA[2]), for 70 years - being one of the one of the "earlier and most successful"[3] of the "omnipresent 'Greek cafe' " in country towns of NSW.[4] The current owner has decided to close on 27 May 2018, citing the high rental costs.[5][6][7]

In 2015, in time for its centenary, the building was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register citing its "artistic, industrial and cultural" significance.[3] The survival of the shop interiors in a "very high" state of integrity was noted as being "possibly unique in Australia":

"The Paragon restaurant is a fine and rare surviving example of an inter-war refreshment room. Its surviving interiors with their high quality fitments and design demonstrate the changing fashions of the interwar period from the front restaurant with its slightly classical taste through to the ocean liner influence of the ballroom and pre-Columbian décor of the former banquet hall...The Paragon is one of the best known Art Deco restaurants and function rooms in New South Wales and its name remains a strong attraction to tourists."

— NSW State Heritage Register, K034[8]

"There was nothing else like this, growing up in the 70s. It was a beacon of beauty in a very sad orange formicad world" - Robyn Parker, owner.[9]

The first advertisement, for "The Paragon Cafe and Oyster Palace", promoting its "American Fountain Drinks" and seafood home-delivery. Published in the The Blue Mountain Echo on 15 September 1916.[10]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Paragon Cafe, Katoomba.

References

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  1. ^ Jack, R. Ian (December 2014). Rickwood, Dr. Peter (ed.). "The Paragon Café, Katoomba" (PDF). Blue Mountains History Journal. 5. Blue Mountains Association of Cultural Heritage Organisations Inc.: 1–12. ISSN 1838-5036. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-02-18.
  2. ^ "Formerly Greek-owned Paragon Cafe in Katoomba to close | Neos Kosmos". neoskosmos.com. 2015-08-10. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
  3. ^ a b Curtin, Jennie (2015-04-21). "Heritage recognition for Paragon Cafe". Blue Mountains Gazette. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
  4. ^ Diamadis, Panayiotis (2011). "Greeks". Dictionary of Sydney. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
  5. ^ Patty, Anna (2018-02-19). "Paragon cafe business owner plans to vacate in May". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  6. ^ "Iconic Greek-Australian Cafe Facing Closure | Greek Reporter Australia". au.greekreporter.com. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
  7. ^ "Formerly Greek-owned Paragon Cafe in Katoomba to close | Neos Kosmos". neoskosmos.com. 2015-08-10. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
  8. ^ "K034: Paragon Cafe Group". www.environment.nsw.gov.au. NSW Environment & Heritage. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
  9. ^ "Paragon cafe to close its doors after more than a century". www.9news.com.au. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  10. ^ "Advertising". Blue Mountain Echo (NSW : 1909 - 1928). Trove. 1916-09-15. p. 5. Retrieved 2018-02-21.

Possible sources

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Closure

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SLNSW refs

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Trove refs

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Blue Mountains library

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