A construction worker who spent years playing chess at a café loved it so much that he has bought the business.
Constantine Tataru, 40, took over the former Matestone in Maidstone after the previous owner decided to sell, reopening it as Romalge earlier this month.
Constantine Tataru with a chess board
The café had long been a gathering point for chess players, with regulars enjoying games, conversation and coffee.
Constantine, originally from Romania, was not prepared to watch that community dissolve.
He said: “I love chess so much, I bought the café.
“We have a big group of chess players here. Around 30 people come.
“I didn’t want to lose the community because we are a big group of friends.”
Homemade cakes and pastries on display at Romalge
Now he runs the business alongside his wife Israa, whose passion for cooking and baking fills the counter each morning with homemade cakes, pastries, savoury food and speciality coffees — all made from scratch.
He said: “We make everything from zero to finished product. We make fresh food every day.”
Constantine also carried out much of the refurbishment himself, drawing on his construction background to add new seating and give the space a fresh look.
The café’s name, Romalge, weaves together Romania and Algeria, the two countries behind the husband-and-wife team.
Constantine and Israa first met in 2019 while studying in Italy.
Constantin Tataru, the owner of Romalge café
Israa said: “We liked each other straight away but we only smiled and went our separate ways.”
Three days later, they crossed paths again by chance while she was looking for a shop.
Constantine decided to be brave and invited her for a coffee.
He said: “That was the beginning.”
They later moved to the United Kingdom and built their life, and now their business, together.
Israa, who previously worked as a university teacher and speaks several languages, brings the kitchen to life while Constantine keeps the chess games going.
Romalge café has been given a fresh new look.
He wants Romalge to offer something most town centre cafés do not: peace and quiet.
“There is noise everywhere you go. If you drive, there is radio. If you go to work, there is noise. We wanted a place where people can slow down,” he said.
“People can take a moment for themselves here, enjoy a cake, enjoy food or just relax for a while.”
Chess will stay at the heart of it, but Constantine said taking over the café was about more than starting a business, saying he had reached a stage in life where he wanted to do something positive for others and give something back to the community.
He said: “You reach a point in your life where you want to bring something to people, help others and improve society.
“A lot of people say one person can’t make a difference, but I think if everyone thinks the opposite, that they can make a small difference, then there will be a difference.
“If everyone thinks like that, we can build a better community and a better social life.”