John Lazarou

Public Relations guru, networking magnate & persistent doer

Caught out having said: "Give me 1 hour of your time and we'll end up being the best of friends."

John Lazarou is well known throughout Brisbane as a public figure with a passion for publicity and public relations. This flair has helped to establish The Coffee Club brand as we know it today.

While Lazarou's trade is hairdressing, he has worked most of his life in retail hospitality, including some of Brisbane's best known Restaurants. In 1991, Lazarou operated The Coffee Club at Brookside Shopping Centre under a franchise agreement and later that year was invited to become a Director of The Coffee Club Group.

Lazarou is currently involved in day to day leadership of The Coffee Club as a Director, with a special interest in the marketing of the business. Lazarou provides valuable publicity & public relations work for the Group, a talent that the 'Emmanuel's' openly brought to the business. Lazarou is often found moving about the media and entertainment circuit, enjoying the relationships that his friendly and engaging personality has brought him.

Lazarou's peers have an interesting opinion of their most flamboyant Director: "He drives us insane with his far-fetched and seemingly unachievable ideas. Somehow though, he manages to motivate the masses, get himself involved, and make it happen over and above all initial expectation. Luckily for us, we're in the business of excellent coffee, and we've learnt to drink it strong!".

How do you take your coffee? "I normally have a double short black at home before I leave for work. This is my morning booster and kicks in within minutes! Once I am at work I'll have a flat white made on skim followed by one litre of water. After dinner at home I like to sit and enjoy a long black and a cigar!"

What is your favourite meal on The Coffee Club menu? "One of my favourite meals on our menu is the Chicken Tandoori Wrap, available at The Coffee Club Cafe Bar Restaurants. The chicken is marinated in a mild tandoori paste, delicious Indian spices and mellowed with natural yoghurt and lemon. Because it's grilled and served in a low-fat warm tortilla, it's a lighter option which I prefer for lunch. The wrap contains really fresh salad ingredients, but it's the minted yoghurt and mango chutney that has me going back for it again and again!"