THE former owner of one of the East End’s most popular eateries Coia’s Cafe will be laid to rest on Wednesday.

Nicky Coia died peacefully at his home on Hogmanay.

A reception and vigil will take place tonight at 6pm at the Immaculate Conception Church on Maryhill Road.

A funeral mass will take place tomorrow at 10am before he is laid to rest at the Western Necropolis Cemetery.

Mr Coia is survived by his wife Guistina, and children Amalia, Alfredo andAngela.

He was also father to the late Nadia and has eight grandchildren.

He took over the running of the Duke Street business in the 1950s and continued in charge until the 1980s when son Alfredo and his wife Antonia Coia took over.

The cafe is also a popular haunt of businesswoman Michelle Mone, who held her 40th birthday celebrations there.

She paid tribute to Mr Coia on Instagram: “Very sad that Mr Coia (Nicky) has passed away.

“He taught me basic business skills when I was 10 years old in the East End.”

Coia’s Cafe first opened in 1928 and quickly became an east end institution, remaining in the family ever since.

Alfredo has previously said three generations of Italian hospitality and a top secret ice cream recipe have been the key to the success of the family business.