After 35 years of owning Dunedin cafes, Ironic co-owner Steve Wilson is putting the business on the market.
Mr Wilson said selling the cafe had been a difficult decision and without the health scare he doubted he would have ever considered leaving hospitality behind.
"I’ve had that scare and I had the operation — now it’s time to re-evaluate life, think of the future with our grandchildren and cherish life as it is.
"It is going to be sad but we’ve decided to move on."
The couple have owned the cafe for 17 years, but the sale marks the end of an even longer career in hospitality for Mr Wilson.
He said his love of the industry came from his mother, who was a baker at the Balvere cake shop in Princes St, which had survived both the Great Depression and World War 2.
He officially entered hospitality at the age of 15, working the night shift at legendary 24-hour burger bar Big Daddy’s, formerly located in the Octagon.
After travelling the world, he returned to Dunedin in 1988 to open his first business — Cafe Cena in George St — now occupied by Buster Greens.
He then moved 100m down the street to start Vino Vena, which sold in 2004.
Ironic opened in 2007 and became his longest running business to date.
Mr Wilson said Ironic had served a wide range of customers and went to great lengths to ensure they all had their needs met.
Mr Wilson said every New Zealand prime minister in the last 17 years had dined at the cafe, and they had all had their photo taken with a one-tonne Sir Robert Muldoon Piggy Bank sculpture occupying the premises.
"Even if you’re a Labour supporter and you hated Rob, you’d still get your photo taken with him."
Over his time in hospitality, Mr Wilson said he had learned cafes and coffee had a social aspect that brought people together, without the need for alcohol. It was also the spark for some top-notch banter.
"The highlight for me is the day-to-day banter with customers and being able to have that rapport.
"If there’s anything I’ll miss, that’s it."
