Residents of Camberwell, Hawthorn East and Glen Iris, including Glenferrie Rotarians, quickly fell in love with the iconic Leo's Fine Food & Wine store (alias Leo's Supermarket) in Summerhill Road, Hartwell, which opened in 2010. Alas, Leo's Hartwell closed in late 2025, much to the dismay of loyal customers. (It has since reopened as a Coles Local). Leo's, which opened first in Kew in 1985, was well known for its European style, its gourmet foods and the unique products it sourced from European suppliers - products you would never find in the 2½ big brand supermarkets that dominate the sector. But did you know the Leo's connection with Rotary? This tribute to a past member from Kew Rotarian Murray Chessell, which appeared in the Kew Bulletin on April 9th 2026, explains the connection. Here is an edited extract kindly submitted by Murray. Ed.
Edited Extract from talk on History of Rotary Club of Kew 9 April 26 - Murray Chessell, Rotary Club of Kew
There were some very capable businesspeople in the club over the years, but some of my fondest memories are of Leo Blake of Leo’s Supermarket fame.
He left school the day he turned 14 and went to work as the butcher’s boy at Carnegie. I don’t know when he first started his own grocery but by the time, he died he had built a small empire of grocery shops stretching from Frankston to Ferntree Gully.
Except for one loyal lieutenant and a couple of people to keep the books, he never built a big team, and he never needed a grand office.
Our Thursday meeting was precious time out of the office for Leo and he enjoyed it a lot, rarely missing a meeting.
He was a very generous supporter of club with cash or kind, for dinners, fundraisers, and good causes
Leo never lost the common touch, nor in a world of big deals and hard doers, did he lose his kind heart.
One of our members who became a very successful Garden designer was forever grateful to Leo for giving him a lot of encouragement to set up his own business - and his first big job.
And another member had only to mention the difficulty his disabled daughter was having getting a job, and Leo had her on the check-out desk at his Kew supermarket within a week – an opportunity which she embraced, becoming a favourite amongst the customers, and living an independent and meaningful life, all thanks to Leo.
Leo was a most admirable bloke.
Murray Chessell