She blames kissing a bloke with strep throat 10 years ago – that was her first one-liner for the interview.
Or maybe, she said, it was all the “ciggies” she smoked in her earlier years. Either way, she admitted her health wasn’t great.
“I’m on borrowed time … I’m on tonnes of pills every day to keep me alive.”
The solo mother of two said she wouldn’t change the past 25 years for anything and was grateful for the ride.
Born and raised in Palmerston North, Grammer did a horticulture and gardening apprenticeship upon leaving school before working for the council’s parks and reserves team.
Carolyn Grammer has retired from Capers Cafe + Store after 25 years of service, since the day the cafe opened. Photo / Kelly Makiha
She was a proud member of the Mothers MC Gang – “an actual gang,” she said.
She spent a couple of years working in Gisborne before embarking on a trip to Europe.
Returning to New Zealand in the 1980s, she got married “because some princess in England got married so everyone wanted to get married”.
The marriage lasted 12 years before she flew to greener pastures, arriving in Rotorua with her children.
She landed a house in Hamurana and had locals chin wagging at school drop-offs when she’d “rock up” in her leather miniskirt, low-cut top, dyed blonde hair, red lipstick and waving her signature cigarette holder.
For six years she worked weekends at the Quality Hotel, and recounts the great days of partying after work at nightclubs such as the Ace of Clubs, Windjammers and Monkey Joes.
But she needed a full-time job to support her children, so she started working at a cafe at Trelawney Garden Centre on Fairy Springs Rd.
Carolyn Grammer in 2021. Photo / Andrew Warner
She said they did a catering job one night attended by Pig and Whistle owners Gregg and Susan Brown. The Browns loved the food so much, they bought the cafe, on the condition that chef Cherry Te Kiri and Grammer came as part of the deal.
Grammer was then brought on staff at their new venture – opening Capers Cafe + Store on Eruera St.
She said she was grateful to have crossed paths with the Browns all those years ago.
“They are what I call good people. World peace people really.”
She said great bosses were so hard to come by, and she never once thought of leaving.
She said they employed many travellers over the years, whom she got to know well, and felt like she had travelled the world without leaving Rotorua.
“Every day was a good day.”
Capers Cafe + Store general manager and shareholder Rosie Harding said the business employed many staff who had been there a long time, but Grammer was particularly special given she was there since the doors opened.
“Caro is Capers for all of the customers. Everyone knows her and she’s been the face of this place for 25 years.”
For now, Grammer is adjusting to her new life of not working around the clock.
“I cry but I try not to think about it. Most of the time I smile and laugh and I think that I have had it good. Great people and great food.”
Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.