Il Rosso never won a race.
Nobody remembers his real name. In the Ligurian harbor town where he grew up he was Il Rosso, for the hair, and in the sixties he raced scooters on the coast road.
Vola, Rosso!
He led every race until the last lap, then pulled over for an espresso. The crowd shouted Vola, Rosso! Fly, Red! It never got him back on the scooter any sooner. The trophies on the shelf are for leading.
He opened a caffè with his winnings, which came to nothing, so it was a small caffè.
Torno subito
Late in the seventies he came to Charleston for the music, liked the pastel houses and the pace, and forgot to go home. The caffè has been here ever since, supposedly. Nobody has found it open.
The card on the door says Torno subito. Back soon. He is out for a ride. His helmet is on the hook and the cup on the bar is still warm.
None of this is true.
Volarosso is a Charleston brand founded by Garth, roasted by a local Charleston roaster. The caffè is a story. The coffee is not.