Cafe Del Mar touted for Coolum stalls on naming issue
A CAFE Del Mar touted for Coolum possibly by the end of the year has failed to materialise and there is dispute over who has the right to open a venue under the name.
Michael Vale, who describes himself as Australian licensee for the popular music and lifestyle brand, visited the Coast earlier this year to scout out potential locations. He maintains Coolum is still a location of interest for one of the cafes.
But John Zappia, who owns Cafe Del Mar in Sydney, claims Mr Vale does not have a right to use the Cafe Del Mar name because he has the trademark until 2024.
Mr Vale, who says he has the rights to open eight Cafe Del Mars in Australasia, said an operator had expressed interest in setting up a Cafe Del Mar in Coolum
However, the operator was yet to secure a venue.
Mr Vale said he spoke to the potential operator about a month ago.
"The interest is there. It's just the finalising of the detail of the leasing situation."
Mr Vale said he had visited Spain earlier this year to speak with the partners who own the Cafe Del Mar brand and they had reached "resolution" over the rights to the name. He described himself as a Cafe Del Mar franchisor and Mr Zappia as a franchisee.
Mr Zappia said his lawyers had sent Mr Vale letters about using the Cafe Del Mar name "but he keeps coming back". Mr Zappia said he had no plans to open a Cafe Del Mar at Coolum but "I know the Coast pretty well" and "I wouldn't shut the door on it."
Source: Sunshine Coast Daily, 14th December 2015
