BUTLER MAKES RICHES

Evening Star, Issue 20510, 14 June 1930, Page 19

BUTLER MAKES RICHES

ROMANCE OF CLUB CHIEF “ LUIGI’S ” SUDDEN DEATH. Luigi Naintre, whom all fashionable London knew as “ Luigi,” managing director ot the Embassy Club in Old Bond street, collapsed in a taxicab re■cently, and died a few minutes later at his flat. He had been in poor health for some time. His heart had been, giving him trouble. A friend was with him when he collapsed in the taxicab. Luigi went to London from his home in Italy thirty-five years ago to seek his fortune (writes an ‘ Evening News 9 correspondent). He had a letter of introduction to Mr Ritz, then general manager of the Savoy, who advised him to start humbly. He knew no English, but he learned the 'language whue employed as an assistant butler in Hampstead at 6a a week" Then ho went to Romano’s as a waiter at £2 a week. _ , In a short time Luigi became more than an ordinary waiter. Millionaires and princes knew him as “Luigi of Romano’s.” And he soon rose to ha manager. Thirty years later he was a director of the company-owning the restaurant.

In 1920 Luigi bought from Mr James White and Mr Albert De Courville the Embassy Club, Old Bond street. He saw his big chance in that club, borrowed the £6,000 which was the purchase price from a Greek friend who knew something of his organising ability, and was able to pay it hack in sis months.

Luigi was so successful as the managing director that when the club was sold eight years later for £127,000 it was computed that he had made £125,000 out of it. And he was retained at a salary of £6,000 a year. In the old days at Romano’s Luigi had a Scheme to escape from too talka> tive diners. At r signal a mysterious telephonj message called him away. One day he found, when he answered a “call,’’ that be still had on his finger a pearl ring a customer had offered him foi £9O. He slipped round to a Jewellers, got an offer or £l4O for tbo ring, returned to the diner, and agreed to buy it all within a few minutes. Luigi was a connoisseur of wines and an expeW buyer. His stock of wines and cigars was priceless. Shortly after tht. war Luigi started Giro’s, and he was also associated with the Criterion, where he had a salary of £3,000 a year. , That was before his Embassy Club deal.