After 74 years, Star Café in Baguio to close

Star Cafe on Session Road, Baguio City taken in January 2014. Photo by Vladimir Bunoan, ABS-CBNnews.com

MANILA – After Baguio City's first McDonald's branch, another of the summer capital's oldest food establishments will soon be closing its doors.

The 74-year-old Star Café, a Baguio City landmark which has seen decades of changes, will close on July 8, local newspaper Baguio Midland Courier reported.

Sixty-nine-year-old Donna Rufino, widow of Star Café owner Joey Rufino, was quoted as saying that she can no longer keep the business running at her age.

Mr. Rufino died last December 18.

Rufino explained that aside from her children are working abroad, all the siblings of her late husband are also not based in the Philippines, leaving no one else left to help manage the business.

"I want to live my life now and do the things I want to do," said Rufino, who admitted all of the restaurant's employees were already informed of the closure.

Star Café, a Chinese restaurant located along Session Road, opened in 1940 by the Rufino patriarch, Goo Chin.

Foodies still patronize Star Café for its reasonably priced family-style meals, including pancit canton, congee, and egg pies.

Congee. Photo by Vladimir Bunoan for ABS-CBNnews.com

Local businessmen have expressed interest in reviving Star Café, but Rufino said she is not yet sure what to do next.