A new coffee shop is set to open on Bridlesmith Gate next to the new Stick & Ribbon store The cafe, Barista Labs has taken over the old Dune shoe store and is set to open any day.
Local residents and business owners are delighted with the coffee shop and can't wait for it to open. The store has been given a makeover ready for opening. The stylish store is painted grey with the Barista Labs logo displayed on its large windows. The inside of the shop is almost ready for opening and includes a a giant pink neon sign on its wall.
It's not the only store opening as Stick & Ribbon womenswear has taken over another unit and is set to open on Saturday, May 14. Bridlesmith Gate has had a difficult few years as many of the stores on the once designer boutique street closed.
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There have been several high-profile closures including Dune, MAC Cosmetics, Diesel and Urban Decay among others which left one of Nottingham's most vibrant shopping districts full of empty properties.
Local businesses and residents are excited for the coffee shop to open and hope it will have a more varied menu.
Sally Longden, owner of Stick & Ribbon said: "It's great as coffee shops are always welcome. It's a really lovely location and it's definitely picking up with independents down on this end of Bridlesmith Gate so it's great news."
Jack Lee, the supervisor at Fred Perry works across from the new store. He is excited to be able to order a coffee as soon as it opens. Fred Perry has been one of the only surviving stores on the street.
"It's good to see the street filling up again. We are on the up at the minute and very positive. I cant wait to see it open as the front has been ready to go for a while and we just waiting for them to open the doors. I'd like to have a coffee from there myself."
Jake Bartlett from Grimsby hopes the store will have a varied menu that offers something new and exciting.
"It depends on what it has to offer in the coffee shop but if it has more diverse flavours than your usual Americano and stuff like that then I'm all for it personally," he said.
ALB developments have announced plans to reopen the street to make it cool again. The development group has purchased eleven buildings across Lister Gate, Bridlesmith Gate and Byard Lane including what was once the Shoezone store.
Property developer, Arran Bailey said he is hoping to 'hoping to kick-start a resurgence in the city."
Speaking with the Post he said: "We want to make this area cool again – bring vibrancy back that Nottingham was once known for. We want to see this part of Nottingham get a buzz like we’ve seen in areas like Hockley."
ALB is teaming up with Nottingham-based Box Property Consultants to bring this vision to fruition and help make this area of Nottingham "akin to London's Carnaby Street".
Mr Bailey said he would be looking at changing the traditional long leases and higher rents which would make the street more attractive to independents. The result of this has been a series of new properties opening on the street such as Stick & Ribbon, Barista Labs and also a new art gallery, Aura Fine Art.
Stick & Ribbon owner, Sally Longden commented: "We haven't been in a position before where we could afford the rent on Bridlesmith Gate or in any premium location in the city. Since property developer, Arran Bailey has come on board, they really want to help Nottingham get back on its feet with independent retailers."
