TRIBUTES have been flooding in for a much-loved owner of a popular Barrow cafe.

Joseph Brucciani died on Wednesday, November 28, aged 88.

Mr Brucciani helped run the hugely popular Brucciani’s cafe’s, both on Dalton Road.

Residents and ex-customers took to social media to express their condolences and shared their fond memories of the cafe’s.

Mr Brucciani’s daughter, Theresa Miloseski, paid tribute to her Dad.

She told The Mail: “I think it goes without say that Brucciani’s holds a place in many people’s hearts for a variety of reasons.

“My Dad loved working the shop, it was a hard slog for him and his brothers Benito and Ren.

“Benito and his family emigrated to Perth a few years before Dad moved us all.

“My three older sisters all got called in to work at the cafe whenever they were short on staff on weekends.

She added: “Dad loved a chat and a good joke, he was one of the most gentle, humble, sincere, respected, loyal, genuine, friendly and caring and funny gentleman around. “Brucciani’s was one of several successful cafe businesses operated by Italian families in Barrow and Ulverston.

Brucciani’s in Dalton Road, known for the pin ball machine, sipping hot Vimto and the sound of the milk frothing machine, closed almost 30 years ago.

The founder of Brucciani’s was Luigi, who had walked from Italy to Britain in the early 1800s, bringing with him the art of ice-cream making.

From Italy to Barrow, Brucciani’s was born, supplying the people of Barrow their daily fix of coffee and sweet treats.

Brucciani’s in Barrow may be gone but the family business is still serving coffee and ice cream to the masses in Morecambe, Preston and Leicester.

The family celebrated Mr Brucciani’s life by having a Rosary at Star of the Sea Church in Cottesloe on Tuesday, before the funeral on Wednesday, December 4.