THE Glasgow Times is featuring the six candidates hoping to be voted Glasgow's Favourite Business for 2024. 

This year's nominees are Boveda Hair & Beauty, Café Gandolfi, Clyde 1, Glasgow Film Theatre, Nursery Story and Waverley Excursions Ltd. 

The award, sponsored by this paper, is part of the Glasgow Business Awards organised by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.  

Established back in 1979, Merchant City’s Café Gandolfi is one of the oldest-family run restaurants in Glasgow. 

Serving "the best of Scottish produce" the eatery has an ever-evolving menu that draws on owner Seumas MacInnes’s Hebridean heritage and he says he is "absolutely delighted" the eatery has been nominated for Glasgow’s Favourite Business.  

Seumas said: "It’s a really lovely compliment to the business and the team, it’s great.  

"Hopefully all my customers vote for me."

(Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)

When Café Gandolfi opened its doors in the former offices of the old cheese market on Albion Street it gave Glasgow its first taste of "real café society" with the city’s first cappuccino machine.  

Seumas says he believes part of why the business continues to be such a success all these years later is how consistent it has remained both with its staff and the quality of food.  

He explained: "There’s a consistency to staff and the product.  

"It’s just a magic place, there’s something special about it and because it’s been going for 45 years, people have a past with it.  

"Lots of people of my age had their first dates here, got engaged here, and that makes a big difference.  

"I’ve got staff that have worked for me for more than 40 years, my head chef has worked for me for 20-something years so even if I’m not here there’s a consistency to a smiling face."  

He added: "If you work here, you have loyalty to it, there’s a magic x-factor."

(Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)

Seumas first started working for Café Gandolfi in 1983, joining the business part time as a kitchen porter after studying hotel management and as a chef. 

He continued: "Then I became a manager, and I managed for five or six years and then I became a junior partner and then six years later I bought Iain MacKenzie that started the business out and that was 20-odd years ago."

Café Gandolfi has a "huge repeat customer base" with Seumas himself working six days a week on the floor.  

Seumas said: "I think the fact customers see me, I’m serving coffees, that’s a nice thing for people. 

"We’re just different. There are people that try to copy us, but nobody’s ever actually copied us properly.  

"We’ve been involved in the food scene in Glasgow for 45 years and we’re still in it.  

"It’s been tough, I think the city centre especially is tough but we’re here to stay."

The winner of The Glasgow Times Award for Glasgow's Favourite Business will be revealed at the annual Glasgow Business Awards at the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central on Thursday, October 3, 2024. Voting closes at midnight on August 30, 2024. 

Place your vote for The Glasgow Times Award for Glasgow's Favourite Business HERE or www.glasgowbusinessawards.com/glasgows-favourite-business-poll/.