Grainne from Patisserie G based at Beechmount Avenue took to social media to share the good news, after revealing a man who is the CEO of Amcomri Group Limited offered to pay the establishment’s electricity bill.

The local coffee and cake spot had been due to close for good as soon as this Saturday but will now reopen fully this Monday.

It marks a remarkable turnaround for one business after the raft of closures impacting on local companies across Northern Ireland in recent weeks as a result of rising costs.

The news was greeted with joy by the many hundreds who commented in response to the post on social media.

In a post on Facebook, the business owner wrote: “I was all set to close the Patisserie on Saturday, heartbroken not just because of the work I put in everyday, but the people I’d be letting down with breakfast club, the ones who come in just to off load because there’s no one at home, the kids, entrepreneurs club, book club, our regulars, the women’s group,” she wrote.

“I got a message and phone call from the son of a man who was born into Amcomri Street. He is now the CEO of a major company. The Amcomri Group. The McGowans are willing to pay our electricity bills and keep the Patisserie open.

“I went from emotional thanking him to: ‘Is this a joke’, to whoa, no thank you is big enough.

“It’s been a rollercoaster, a few of my adorable customers have pointed out last week how tired I looked. So I’m taking this week off to recharge, breathe, do some work in the Patisserie that needs sorted.

“A massive thank you to everyone who bought gifts/donations. I am actually cut to the bone because they were for closing and they turned into ‘staying open’ gifts. As if I’m not socially awkward enough receiving gifts but thank you from the bottom of my heart.

“Reopening Monday 3 October. Breakfast club on, Halloween decorating classes on, young entrepreneurs club Halloween week on.

“But how incredible to those kids in the club to have someone like [the] McGowans to look up to. Never be afraid to reach further than the stars. I said from the first day in the entrepreneurs club, it doesn’t matter where you live, with hard work and dedication you can be anything you want to be.”

The post Belfast dessert shop saved from closure after lifeline from local business chief first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

The appetite for this year’s awards has been immense and we have received more than 500 entries to this year’s competition, which has been independently judged by industry specialists Spotcheck NI to rigorous standards.

To reach this stage of the competition is a major achievement, and we’re looking forward to meeting all the finalists at the NR Gala Awards Dinner on October 28 at the Crowne Plaza, Belfast.

The finalists for the Store Manager of the Year award are:

• Niall Kirkpatrick, Centra Portglenone
• Craig Crossey-Truesdale, SPAR Dublin Road
• Chris Lawlor, EUROSPAR Donegall Road
• Ruairi McBride, Ivan Wilson Limited Centra
• Samuel McCann, SPAR Malone Road
• Elaine Sharwin, SuperValu Downpatrick
• John Fox, EUROSPAR Kilkeel

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The collision took place shortly after 11:35 BST on Wednesday September 21 on Longstone Street.

The post Police car crashes into Lisburn shop front first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

The new 500 square metre shop, built to the rear of the older store,  opened on St Patrick’s Day last year when the lockdown was still in place.

“When we opened, there was a lot of interest – there were queues outside the door and we had to have someone on the door nearly steady. Basically the first few weeks were just crazy – everybody wanted out of the house to look at something!” Andrew Craig says.

“It was tricky for everybody, you just had to keep on putting people on the door.”

At the time the shop was dealing with the pandemic restrictions and offering deliveries to its most vulnerable customers.

“We had only opened that shop and it was probably 9-10 months after the pandemic started, so there was a month when we were completely closed,” Andrew says.

“It’s your standard shop, deli, off licence, big fruit and veg section, all your standard confectioneries, wee post office in the corner, a wee ice cream counter.

“We’re actually making our own ice cream now too called Daisy Moos, that was just done for that shop. There’s a bigger range of deli food.”

On the forecourt itself are two double pumps selling petrol, diesel and kerosene.

“We don’t sell any Ad Blue at the minute, but we’ll probably get a stand on site. We haven’t actually got that sorted yet, we’re just trying to get everything sorted at the minute,” Andrew says.

“There are two car washes at the back – just a pull up self service, the power hose and the foam brush.”

To read the full feature, watch out for the next edition of Neighbourhood Retailer.

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Butcher Stephen Millar says he had been looking for larger premises for a long time, but found the perfect location when the historic Ulster Bank building across the street in Irvinestown came up for sale.

“I had been looking and looking, and then the former Ulster Bank came up for auction – and I knew that was the one I wanted,” Stephen says.

“I purchased and made the decision to start the work on it literally as Covid was kicking in – so that delayed the whole process by a lot. And when you purchase an old building you probably don’t realise the amount of problems you’re going to encounter as well.

“At times it felt as if we were never going to get there, but we did and we opened this summer. There are still bits and pieces to do but we’re delighted with it and the feedback from people has been amazing.

“A lot of people in the town have been very nostalgic about it and they’re glad to see the old building being used again.”

The renovation of the building proved challenging, taking more than two years, but the results are spectacular.

“One of the first things was getting rid of the safes. There were two safe rooms and we needed machinery to lift them out, they were so heavy,” Stephen says.

“There’s a lovely safe at the front where people would have lodged money into the night safe. So we kept it as a feature and everybody notices it.

“Because we were going from an office to a retail space, everything had to be Building Control compliant, so there was a huge amount of work there, and then conforming with disability legislation as well – there were a lot of hoops to go through.”

Well known local historian Briege McCusker sourced a photo of how the main street in Irvinestown looked years ago.

“We managed to put it on the side of a chill, so whatever way it looks, it looks as if it’s 3D and as if youre looking down into the street in Irvinestown years ago,” Stephen says.

“The first couple of days it opened I couldn’t believe people’s response to it – particularly for older people in the town, it was really nostalgic.”

Stephen describes the look of the interior as traditional with a modern twist.

“Everything is white and grey and then the ceiling is a darker colour with really bright lights. One of the main features is the beautiful terrazzo floor and I have to say the amount of comments we’ve had on it is amazing.

“It’s kind of white but it’s brought in coppers and greys, so we haven‘t gone with any real colours as such – I just wanted to keep it black and white and grey with a splash of gold in the floor.”

There are even plans for a memorabilia wall reflecting the history of the building – and featuring some of the Henri Hippo merchandise that many Ulster Bank customers fondly remember.

To read the full feature, watch out for our next issue of Neighbourhood Retailer.

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