Capitol Cafe

The Capitol Cafe was in Greenham's Buildings in Nicholas Street. In the mid 20th century, Nolan's Chemist was next door on the corner of Brisbane & Nicholas Streets, and the Commonwealth Bank was opposite that. At this time a laneway adjoined the cafe building on one side. There was two large dining rooms (1 up and one downstairs), with a meeting room upstairs. In earlier days Isaac Ham's Refreshment Rooms had been where the Capitol Cafe now stood. 

The Capitol Cafe started up in Nicholas Street around 1937. There was a bakehouse too but at this time, Smith the proprietor, wanted to rent it out. Eventually the bakery was used by the Capitol to produce buns, puff pastries, sponges and tea cakes that were all baked on the premises. In the mid 1940s the cafe seems to have changed hands and McPherson became the proprietor. Some modernisation of the premises or expansion of the service seems to have occurred following this change of hands. 

Initially the Capitol Cafe specialised in pure fruit drinks and pineapple juice. Over time they offered Devonshire teas, fish & chip meals, fresh oysters daily, 3 course dinners, soup, sausage rolls, joints and grills.  In 1946 the Capitol was serving three meals a day. They also acquired a milk bar.

In the 1930s and 1940s, the Capitol Cafe's speciality was catering for weddings. The cafe was a popular venue for those celebrations as well as pre-wedding showers, birthdays, golden wedding anniversaries, fund raisers of various kinds, farewell & welcome back parties for World War II soldiers. Their meeting room/s were well used by local clubs and associations.  The Western Star Lodge met there for fortnightly meetings. The inaugural meeting of the Ipswich branch of the Air Force Association occurred here on 8 February 1945. ALP Branch Ladies' functions and Apex Club meetings were sometimes held here. Local businesses like Morris Woollen Mills held a social club dinner there, and Modern Motor Service Pty Ltd celebrated 10 years in business with a staff dinner at the Capitol Cafe in January 1948.

The Capitol Cafe was still trading in November 1954.