The news of Michael and Grace Pang’s retirement and possible closure of Shepparton Family Restaurant saddened Mrs Lagana, who has been a staff member for more than 30 years.
She said the first time Mr Pang decided to retire the news ended up on Facebook.
“One of the customers put it online and it just went viral,” Mrs Lagana said.
“We had been quiet and then from that post we got really busy, so he reconsidered — but that only lasted a little more than a month and he again decided to retire.”
Mrs Lagana said she gladly accepted the owners’ offer for her to take over the business.
“The customers were so sad because it’s been here for so long; it’s more of an icon than a business.
"I spoke with my family and they were 100 per cent behind me,” she said.
Not able to keep the business afloat without staff, Mrs Lagana said luckily all past staff members were happy to stay on under the new ownership.
“We’re doing this together as a team. The cooks have stayed on which is fantastic because if the cooks leave we would have to start again and then there’s no point keeping the doors open,” she said.
Shepparton Family Restaurant is located 302/308 Wyndham St, Shepparton. For more information phone 58213737.
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