CHANGES are bubbling away at Warrnambool’s oldest fish and chip shop.
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Warrnambool Seafoods has been closed since Christmas Eve, but owners George, Helen and Chris Politis have hinted the store will re-open.
But mystery surrounds whether it will be the Politis family or new operators.
The Politis family have run the Liebig Street business for 56 years, with George and Helen regular figures in the shop.
George Politis said he had served thousands of people with freshly cooked seafood since January 1961.
It was a time before takeaway chains, including McDonalds and KFC, existed in the south-west.
Over the years he formed close relationships with people who walked through the doors.
“Many of these customers ceased being patrons and became good friends,” he said.
He said for now, the door at Seafoods was closed.
This is due to Mr Politis suffering from a knee injury, which he says has become “too painful to carry on 16 hours a day, seven days a week”.
His doctor recommended he stop working, but that doesn’t mean the shop will be shut forever.
“Keep an eye on the shop as plans are afoot to re-open in the near future,” Mr Politis said.
“Don’t worry about the shop. It will open again.”
The Politis family thanked everyone who had visited their shop over the years.
“To all our customers and friends, we are sorry that we cannot continue,” Mr Politis said.
“Thank you very much to all who have continued your patronage, after more than half a century, to keep returning for your seafood needs. It has been fantastic. Thank you for trusting me to cook seafood for 56 years. We love it.”
The 86-year-old Greek immigrant has become a part of Warrnambool’s CBD identity.
He said plenty of people had stopped him in the street to ask about the future of the shop.
He said he hadn’t realised so many people cared.