Charlie’s Cafe has become an institution in Inverness and is recognised as the last surviving establishment in the town from a bygone era when the family-run Italian cafe/chip shop was commonplace – in Inverness and Scotland in general.
Charles (Charlie) Pieraccini arrived in Inverness in the 1930s. He opened a fish and chip shop in Grant Street in 1944.
The Pieraccini family hailed from Barga.
In 1952, Charlie set up a cafe in a converted house on the corner of Margaret Street, naming it it after himself.
The cafe is located next to Inverness bus station.
It was lively, with many locals and travellers passing through the door each day.
Charlie’s Cafe had the accolade of being the first in Inverness to have a jukebox on the premises.
By the time Charlie passed away in 1990, the business was being run by his son, also called Charlie.
When Charlie Jr retired in 1994, his nephew Martin Pieraccini stepped in to continue the family link by taking over the cafe.
Charlie Jnr. died in 2015.
Charlie Pieraccini Snr. was a motorcycle enthusiast. To this day the cafe is still known for its vintage motorcycles and motoring memorabilia.
Charlie Pieraccini was the brother of Emilio (Leo) Pieraccini who ran The Chocolate Shop in Tain, Their other brother, Primo, ran the The Highland Restaurant, also in Inverness.