Cafe's owner returns to revamp and reopen

A reopened cafe in the top block of Wanganui's Victoria Ave is a family affair.

It was the Top o' the Town cafe when Joanne Rouxelle first had it, then, after selling the business, it became Hysteria Cafe and then Hysteria Cafe & Roast.

Miss Rouxelle said the last owners had walked out and now that she has the business back, she is calling it Cafe Roux (pronounced rocks).

She is in partnership with daughter Selina, while another daughter, Marita, and son Dallas are also likely to work at the cafe.

Miss Rouxelle said when she was running Top o' the Town seven days a week, it was hard going with five children to also look after.

She sold the business six years ago - but has hated seeing it fail to prosper since then.

A refurbishing of the cafe has seen the walls painted white and hung with her paintings. It opened yesterday with plenty of balloons outside to celebrate.

The cafe is selling sandwiches and burgers, with homemade scones, muffins and cakes and all-day breakfasts.

It looks rather like an old-fashioned tea room but has an espresso machine for making coffee.

"It's back to the old-school," Miss Rouxelle said.