‘It’s A Bad Dream’: Paceville Wakes Up To Reality Of Beloved Patron Hugo Chetcuti’s Death
The morning after Hugo Chetcuti’s death, Paceville is a different place.
The early morning cleaners are scrubbing through all of Hugo’s establishments, as he would have wanted – but Paceville’s patron has been taken from his entertainment hometown, and his loss is being felt already.
“Its business as usual for the Hugo’s Group,” said the Hugo’s team on Friday morning. “All of our venues will operate as normal, however, a black ‘bow’ will be placed at the entrance to all outlets and further signs of respect will follow as the days unfold.”
His bars, clubs, and restaurants are usually packed to the brim with people having a good time. Today, however, the employees are solemn. His namesakes are not their usual selves on this dark Friday the 13th.
Not a single one of his establishments were playing music, and the massive bright ads that adorn Hugo’s Hotel have been switched off
In the daylight, you begin to realise how his name is literally etched into half of Paceville. Starting from Footloose and going all the way down to St. George’s Bay, you pass a multitude of his establishments.
Hugo’s Passion, Hugo’s Terrace, Hugo’s Pub are just some of his more popular drinking holes. Hugo’s Burgers, Hugo’s Lounge, and Hugo’s Pizza Pasta are just a few of his dining establishments.
That’s when you realise Hugo Chetcuti – the business mogul, the employer, and the mentor – had a lifelong impact on those around him, and you begin to understand why there’s so much reverence for the man in the area.
A manager who worked with him for decades felt like was having a nightmare
Working closely with Hugo Chetcuti for years, seeing him rise from a club manager to a national entrepreneur makes it even harder to accept that he is gone.
“It’s a bad dream,” said the manager, still stunned at the news.
There was only one hope for the area now the man with “all the ideas” had been murdered.
“Hopefully Paceville still keeps going strong on what he has built over the years,” the manager said.
The venue were the stabbing took place
A local restaurateur in his 20s is worried about becoming successful
“In my opinion, this is a problem. He was the heart of half of Paceville, and he changed everyone – he changed Malta for the better thanks to his great ideas and success. He didn’t deserve it,” he said.
Asked about how he felt about the murder of Hugo Chetcuti, he made his emotions clear.
“Me? I feel empty. I’ve lost hope in becoming a successful businessman. Success brings enemies – look at how Malta rewards success. I’m serious – I don’t want to be successful anymore – ma rajtx what happened?”
The restauranteur, who both competed with and looked towards Hugo Chetcuti as an inspiration, said that he was troubled by how many people perceived Hugo in a negative way.
“We need people to know that he was a walking genius. He was a teacher and a mentor to many people. A single man who changed the whole country’s mentality when it came to food, clubbing, and hotels,” he said.
“What he did, no man will ever do. He was a risk taker and a inspiration to many people. If it wasn’t for him, Malta wouldn’t have seen the things it has.”
A manager looks to his son for the future
“I don’t know, I’m just without words. We lost a great man,” the man said to Lovin Malta. Having worked in Hugo’s establishments for years, and considering Hugo a friend, the Maltese man was unsure of what happens now.
But as far as the future of Paceville goes, “it all depends on what is in Luke’s head,” he says, referring to Hugo’s son Luke Chetcuti.
“Everything that Hugo had is in his hands now.”
A local shop-owner in his 40s is shocked the murder even happened
One man who owns a shop in Paceville was shocked that something like this could happen to someone like Hugo Chetcuti.
“He didn’t deserve it – can you imagine working hard, becoming a millionaire, and then losing it all because of some douchebag? It’s so unfair. We go out, we have fun, and we don’t think that we could be attacked or something like that.”
However, as far as he is concerned, business owners in Paceville shouldn’t let the murder hold them back.
“What we can do is we keep pushing Malta like he was doing, Let’s continue his legacy, even though we don’t have his cash we can use his ideas.”
An event organiser in his 20s knows change is coming
One event organiser who worked in Hugo’s establishments said all eyes were on Luke Chetcuti now. “This is very bad news – things will change for sure. I don’t really know how, but it all depends on Luke now.”
What do you think will happen to Paceville?
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