Dorando’s Cafe, Academy St.,Inverness

Renato Turriani arrived in  Inverness from Tuscany with his wife and baby son Enrico, after having fought in the First World War.

Initially he worked for fellow Italian Joseph Bergamini who had sponsored his immigration. 

Joseph gave him the nickname ‘Dorando’ in jest after  Dorando Pietri, the Italian marathon runner disqualified and carried across the finish line at the 1908 London Olympics.

 Renato was given the nickname on account of his unhurried manner and relaxed timekeeping.

Around the early 1920s, Renato  opened Dorando’s Cafe at 89 Academy Street.

In time, The Turriani family opened a second shop at 36 Church Street which was also called Dorando’s. 

Three generations of the Turriani family ran the cafe on Academy Street until it closed its doors in 1993 – Renato, his son Henry and then his grandson also, Renato.

Renato and sons at the counter of the Academy St. shop

Grandson Renato sold the business after deciding to something else with his life.  

According to his daughter Carla, a work colleague of Lorenzo Volante, the bridal shop which now occupies 36 Church Street still has the same external door that Dorando’s had!