Porirua is set to lose a much-loved Pasifika-inspired cafe, with Pepe’s Cafe announcing it will close after it’s last day, Sunday 21 December, following challenging period for the business.
Pepe’s Cafe Porirua has become a favourite for locals drawn to its Island-inspired menu and community-focused approach to hospitality.
The owners said the decision to close followed months of reflection, rising operating costs and the growing pressure of balancing hospitality work with family life.
They said the cafe was created to bring flavours from home to Porirua, served with care, pride and a focus on accessibility.
While not every goal was reached, they said they were proud of what the business achieved and the place it carved out in the local food scene.
The owners thanked customers for their support, saying repeat visits, kind messages and word of mouth helped keep the business going through difficult times.
They also acknowledged encouragement from other local businesses and organisations that supported them along the way.
They said the cafe opened during a tough economic climate, with food and operating costs continuing to rise while household budgets tightened.
Raising prices felt like the only business solution, they said, but it conflicted with their commitment to keeping food affordable for the community they served.
Family was another key factor in the decision. Between them, the owners have four young children, and the long, unpredictable hours of hospitality were taking a toll.
They said the demands of running the cafe meant time with whānau was slipping away, and that was something they could not get back.
The owners paid tribute to their staff, describing them as the backbone of the business and thanking those who helped build the cafe from its early days through to its final weeks.
They said closing the doors was not the ending they had hoped for, but one they faced with pride in what had been created.
Pepe’s Cafe will trade for the final time on Sunday, December 21, closing a business that became a much-loved part of Porirua’s food scene.