FORGET the greasy spoon... a new Ducati motorcycle dealership with supercafe selling croissants and coffee to bikers and the public will open next month in Walmgate, York, after an investment of more than £750,000.

Called Moto Veloce and with its eating area separately named Caf Tifosi, the venture is quickly taking shape under the watchful eye of Steve Heinz, managing director of HH Services Ltd.

Moto Veloce is arising from the ashes of the ill-fated Cars of Distinction, the Mitsubishi and Alfa Romeo double franchise which went into receivership last July with 15 jobs lost.

Mr Heinz will soon employ 14 people to look after various aspects of the 14,000 sq ft site, from servicing, with MoT inspections, quick-fit facilities for brakes and exhausts, to sales of motorcycle gear.

There will also be qualified staff selling Ducatis, which range from £4,500 for a 600cc Monster Dark to £20,000 for the 916 SPS 1000cc, voted by the trade press as Motorcycle of the Year for three years running.

"But we'll also be selling smaller 50cc French and Italian motor scooters and apart from the dedicated biker's clothing like leathers and helmets, we will also display lifestyle clothes such as T shirts, sweaters and sunglasses," said Mr Heinz.

Caf Tifosi - meaning enthusiastic fan - will have 80 seats, a sports theme, and a wall-high television tuned to satellite stations. It will serve six different varieties of coffee and a variety of teas and milk shakes, apart from delicatessen-style food using baguettes and continental bread plus croissants.

Mr Heinz said: "Why not croissants? Bikers nowadays are often quite discerning people, not tearaways. They are often middle-aged people with disposable incomes and understand the finer things of life. Besides, we want to appeal to everyone, including the little old lady passing by."

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