your comments
Chris Williams, Wrexham
Does anyone remember Oliver's shoe shop in Hope Street with wellies and sandals hanging outside? My first job on leaving school was as a shop assistant there. Between Olivers and Bank Street, where Marubbi's cafe was situated was McMahn's fish shop (on the corner), then Bank Street, then National Westminster Bank then the old Woolworths, all creaking wooden floors and wooden counters where the assistants stood in the middle with the goods all around them. I was in there one day when a light exploded. There was a grand opening when the new Woolworth opened, complete with fish counter and waterfall. Does anyone remember Tesco being in High Street, on the right hand side before you turn into Mount Street, then it moved to Lord Street on the corner facing the Guildhall. I think one of the banks moved there after Tesco moved out, possibly Nat West. Also remember going into Marrubis for Vimto with my mum in early sixties. Mum would then go miles out of her way to try to avoid passing the pet shop in Chester Street (around where Kwik Save store is now) which had real puppies in the window (not very PC now). She could never get me past that shop without a crying match as I pleaded for one of the puppies.
Wed Apr 22 07:44:05 2009
Tony Partington, Australia
I knew the Marubbi's in the 60s and was a great friend of Albert. We used to go to Sam's Cafe, Albert had the top of his thumb cut off fixing a motor bike, but that was before he started to repair cars. We have now lost contact
Wed Mar 25 08:02:31 2009
Nick Williams, Penycae, now Cambridge
Spent many a happy Sat morning in there chatting to the young waitress, Angie, till she went out with me, be around '77/'78 time. Remember how busy the place always used to get and how good the milk coffee was too. Anyone else remember those long gone happy times?
Fri Feb 27 15:20:34 2009
Julia Marubbi, Lincoln
I am Herbet's great granddaughter, I remember going to the cafe when I was young and he used to give me the best ice cream ever! My father Albert Marubbi has got Bellevue garage, Ruthin Road, Wrexham. He has been there for nearly forty years, I used to help him with the MOTs. I have two other sisters, Lisa and Marisa, Lisa has two children and Marisa has one. My grandad was always happy, and loved children! Also he enjoyed his holidays at the caravan site in Porthmadog! And we miss him very much!
Tue Jan 20 09:35:52 2009
Annamaria - Molfetta
I'm Annamaria, I'm the niece of uncle Umberto, and I discovered this country very later. I found a nice big family in Wrexham, now I don't know what I say because I'm shy. In a few weeks I write more about this fantastic Wrexham - Annamaria Daliani Poli.
Mon Jan 5 09:55:11 2009
Brian Stapley, Brymbo
When I left school in the early '60s my first job was at Francis Chemist on Hope Street, but the back of the shop was on Bank Street. I sometimes went to Marubbi's for a drink, most of the time it was Vimto. I always remember Mr Armando Murubbi seemed to smile a great deal and so did Herbert, and it sounded like a happy place to work. I haven't been to Marubbi's for a long time, but I will be 62 this month and I will try and go, just to see if the atmosphere is still the same.
Fri Jul 4 08:18:17 2008
Darren, Wrexham
Whey hey, someone elso remembers the big fish in Woollies. My cousin owns Marrubis removals. It was Alan Marrubi who owned it originally. Lovely man. He later drove his van delivering for Lego in Wrexham. I worked there with him and my dad worked for him in '70s/'80s on removals. I remember the cafe well. I used to deliver papers around the town in early '80s (I was the young lad sat outside Marks n Spencers selling the Leader). I used to call in for a hot Vimto in the winter. Old man Marrubi was a really nice guy. Anyone remember Aubreys cafe in the market? Good memories sat in there on Saturday mornings eating the cheese on toast and the strawberry milk shakes, mmm.
Tue May 27 09:30:51 2008
Gigi - Molfetta - Italy
I was in Marubbi's cafe for the first time in 1978 and I remember that ice-cream of uncle Umberto was fantastic.
Wed Apr 9 09:12:53 2008
Gigi
I live in Molfetta (Bari) and I'm Umberto's nephew. I was in Wrexham for the first time in 1978 and I was very excited to see a different life than in Italy. About my uncle Umberto, I remember him like a fantastic man, full of happiness and kindness and I remember every time, me and my family waited my uncle Umberto and my auntie Dora coming from Wrexham to Molfetta by car. We were very excited to meet them and we were all the time to the window of my nonna to see when zio Umberto and zia Dora coming in my nonna's house. About cafe Marubbi, I think this cafe is the legend of Wrexham. Greetings to my fantastic cousins with her family: Paul, Alberto, Angela and Marisa. Every time I go to Wrexham I'm very happy to meet my fantastic cousins, even if someone say that I'm coming to Wrexham only for night clubbing: it's not true. Greetings - Gigi.
Fri Mar 28 09:47:49 2008
Tony Moss, Hayfield, Derbyshire
My mother is a Marubbi, daughter of Pietro Marubbi who, according to a letter I have from Herbert, was a cousin of Armando. Pietro settled in Llandudno and married in 1907, working as a cook/chef both privately and in hotels - perhaps not as successfully as his cousin in Wrexham who seems to have founded a very popular dynasty! Any assistance on tracing family roots back in Italy would be appreciated. I went, as suggested by the letter from Herbert, to Bardi in 2006 but found no traces.
Thu Mar 6 14:55:25 2008
Mazzone
I am wondering if anyone from the Marubbi family (or anyone from the Wrexham area) can help me. I have been researching the family name of Mazzone for the past seven years. My grt grandparents Antonio & Fransesca and children (Angelo, Joseph, Juahn Baptista, Concetta, Rocco, (my grandad) Gerald, and Philmania) moved to Wrexham around about 1901 from Italy (1883) to south Wales. I know they lived at 17 Market Street at the time. My grt grandparents then moved to Chester. However, I know that my grandad Rocco Mazzone moved back to Wrexham as my father Michael was raised (his words) in the big houses which were built on or near the old Asda. I also know at one time that my grandad and his brother ran a small shop along Yorke St, however I can't seem to find out what it was. My dad (before he passed away) used to talk about the Marubbi family and I know as a child I used to visit Marubbi's on a regular basis (as I still do). So if anyone at all can give me any info doesn't matter how small I would be eternally grateful. Many thanks for reading, Jacky.
Mon Sep 10 09:24:56 2007
Ray James
Albert also did his bit for the community. He transported the scenery for the Wrexham Youth Club pantomime group to various venues around the Wrexham area e.g. Chirk, Cefn, Treuddyn, Buckley, Rhos and several more.
Mon Aug 20 10:35:43 2007
Janet, Wrexham
Woolies occupied the site which is now WH Smith and MKOne. If you walked into the arcade further along there was another access and all the windows on that side belonging to Woolies were used for display. There was also a rear entrance near Marubbi's, opposite the steps into the butchers market. My memories of Woolies are wooden floors and counters, always very crowded. It moved to its current site in 1979, and had two escalators and numerous entrances. Downstairs sold food and home goods, and the fish counter had a backdrop of a real waterfall effect, which I believe is still there.
Mon Aug 13 10:29:07 2007
Janet Roberts
I wasn't aware that Woolworths was at any time situated anywhere other than where it is now. Does anyone remember the huge fish on the wall downstairs (down the escalator) in Woolies? Also, does anyone have any relevant memories of Penygelli Infants and Juniors, especially as the Juniors has been demolished now? My daughter is a pupil at the new school, which is lovely, but it seems rather sad that the old school is now a distant memory, especially as it was only built in 1976.
Fri Aug 10 09:18:40 2007
Tony, Wrexham
I was in St Mary's RC school in the fifties, and we would go either to Marubbi's or Snelson's chip shop for lunch.It was the hot Vimto which attracted us. I knew Angela in school, she was a friend of my older sister.
Thu Aug 9 10:38:38 2007
Janet, Wrexham
My Uncle Tom and Auntie Eileen were very good friends of Herbert and Dora. I used to go to the cafe whenever I was in town for a glass of hot Vimto and something to eat. There was a large milk dispenser on the high counter along the wall, and they also made great ice cream sundaes. I also spent time at the caravan in Portmadoc as a very small child.
Mon Aug 6 11:31:33 2007
Vic Williams, Chester
Having been born in Summerhill, 1942, a visit to Wrexham town on the 'bus was a great adventure. It was not complete unless I persuaded my Mum to take me to THE RED STREET. I called it this because as Les Evans rightly said, it was cobbled, RED cobbles. The ice cream is still remembered.
Mon Jul 23 12:05:20 2007
Roger Lloyd Jones
My Father, Lloyd Jones, was a butcher running the Hugh John Jones business which he took over from his father in the Butchers Market. His stall at the time was on the right as you went down the steps by the back entrance to Woolworths about 10 yards from Marubbis. As a kid I was always sent to get a jug of tea from Marubbis for my Dad and his helpers.I t used to cost 6d. Herbert was a really kind and nice man and occasionally let me keep the sixpence. The bacon and chips there was great but what I remember most was the Vimto, hot or cold. Great to see Marubbis is still going strong just like Hugh John Jones Butchers now in its 4th generation with my nephew running it.
Fri Jul 13 15:50:23 2007
John Marshall
In 1943, me and all my teenage friends were in the Army Cadet Corps in preparation for the time when we would called up into the army. Sunday mornings were great fun when with Under Officer Joe Bennett we would roam through the hills around Wrexham learning to be soldiers. Patrick Jennings, John Davies, Brian Williams, Jim, Hedgehog are all the names that come to me now, at age 79, but there were many others of you. Just wish I could remember all your names. After our training we would all meet for delicious hot fruit drinks at Marubbis. What happy days those were. It was great growing up in Wrexham even in the war years.
Mon Jun 4 08:26:49 2007
Claire Hopwood, Inverurie, Scotland
I can remember this cafe well. I used to stop here for my lunch with my siter when we were out shopping at a weekend. We used to stop here for our dinner - steak pie, chips, mushy peas and gravy and the milky coffee...the best!
Wed May 9 15:44:57 2007
Dora Marubbi from Wrexham
I married Herbert in Molfetta (Bari, Italy) on February 16 1946 and came to Wrexham in July the same year. I could only speak English a few words that I learned in high school in Molfetta. I married at 17 and was expecting our son Albert when I came to Wales, he was born in January 1947. In 1949 we had a daughter named Angela, then in 1952 we had twins named Paul and Marisa. I used to help in the cafe where I learned English pretty fast with all our customers. My father-in-law originated from Piacenza, Italy. My mother-in-law came from Italy also but from the province of Pistoia which, with Herbert, I went to visit and knew someone of her family. I remember them with love.
Thu Apr 12 09:37:40 2007
Lynsey Edwards, Wrexham
My mum, Marisa, is Paul's twin sister. She used to work in the cafe and like her myself and my sister Caroline both worked in the cafe as Saturday girls. It's a family tradition to work there as Paul's kids, Paul, Thea and Hannah have all worked there, and his wife Angela too. Marubbi's Cafe has the best chips EVER and the best ice cream.
Wed Apr 11 08:14:46 2007
Marisa Edwards, Sydney
Marubbi's Cafe is the best, the staff are all friendly and Paul makes the best meals ever, all freshly prepared, no "quick" plastic food here. It is probably one of the oldest cafe's going in Wrexham and well worth a visit.
Tue Apr 10 09:54:12 2007
Debbie Marubbi
It's funny how you start learning about your family when your at an age when you have your own. I'm off spring of the clan and unfortunatley I lost my loving father John Marubbi son of Joseph Marubbi, Herbert's brother, making my father who I believe is cousin to Paul Marubbi. As I haven't my father in my life now I can't ask questions regarding the family and the history which I would love to know and pass on to my little boy.
Tue Apr 10 08:25:25 2007
Dora Marubbi, Wrexham
Me, Herbert and my in laws one week after I came to Wrexham in July 8, 1946.
Thu Apr 5 13:44:27 2007
Les Evans, Wrexham
Half way down bank Street which was cobbled was Marubbi's cafe with the back entrance to the market and the old Woolworths store. My first job in Woolworths brought me into contact with old man Marubbi as he was known as each morning he would be in front of the cafe while his son Herbert would be busy doing the breakfasts. Old man Marubbi kept us entertained with his stories especially about his visits to the wrestling in Liverpool where his walking stick was banned after he tried to use it on Les Kellet and Billy Two Rivers. The cafe was a hive of activity and Herbert always knew what was going on in the town and kept Wrexham Leader's best news gatherer Reg Herbert informed. Herbert also loved Wrexham and was a keen collector of its history. Paul Marubbi now keeps the tradition going. By the way it was also popular for its Italian ice cream.
Thu Apr 5 08:23:05 2007
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