A young entrepreneur hoping to build an Italian restaurant empire in Wales has opened a new venue in Merthyr Tydfil. Casa Bianca is the first eatery to occupy the iconic Milbourne Chambers building on Glebeland Street in the town centre.
It is the fourth restaurant opened by owner Andreas Christou, who already operates Casa Bianca restaurant and cocktail bar in Abergavenny, Casa Bianca in Pontypridd and La Piccola Italia in Monmouth. Speaking to WalesOnline in Septamber, the 27-year-old said: "We chose to go with the Casa Bianca brand because it has taken off in Abergavenny...Since opening in 2018 [it] has developed a particularly loyal, tight-knit customer base – many of whom regularly travel to dine with us from Merthyr Tydfil.”
Mr Christou is now hoping to have similar success in Merthyr Tydfil with the aim of making around £1.5m to £1.8m turnover a year. At the smaller Pontypridd premises he’s looking at reaching a turnover of between £500,000 and £800,000. The restaurant, which opened in November, employs between 15 and 18 people.
Mr Christou plans to open an adjoining cocktail bar in the town next year employing a further 10 staff. “I’m very excited for the Merthyr opening. We get hundreds of customers coming from Merthyr visiting our Abergavenny branch so that’s why we’ve decided to open in Merthyr,” he said.
Casa Bianca marks a new culunery chapter for Milbourne Chambers. The building was originally owned by Merthyr Tydfil's first postmaster, William Milbourne Davies, from the 1870s until 1903. It was rebuilt and transformed by his ancestors into the building that stands today and named ‘Milbourne Chambers’ in his honour.
After 30 years of serving the community, the Post Office relocated in 1903 to a new building on John Street, leaving the magnificent building open to buyers.
In 1904 high-class jewellery and watch retailer JD Williams occupied the space. Founded by Merthyr Tydfil-born James David Williams, he returned to Merthyr Tydfil to open his own shop after having apprenticed as an ironmonger and travelled around the UK learning his trade.
After James’ sudden death, the business was taken over by his son, Frederick Carlyle Williams, who continued to run the business under his father’s name and moved it to its new premises at Milbourne Chambers. The iconic clock was erected on top of the building, which faces Lower High Street, to advertise the new jewellery business and celebrate the announcement of the new county borough status of Merthyr Tydfil — which became official in 1908.
The building was then taken over by the established hair and beauty salon, Ladybirds, which served the community’s beauty needs from the building for 13 years. The family-run salon business, Ladybirds Hair Centre, was founded in 1972 and is now owned by Paula Crimmings, who took over from her mother.
In 2013, they made the decision to relocate to a new premises on Swan Street, where they will this year be celebrating 50 years of serving the community.
For the new restaurant, Mr Christou worked alongside quantity surveyors Owen Associates - a family run business from Abergavenny based in cardiff. The new venture was possible by investment from the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns Placemaking scheme — delivered in conjunction with Merthyr Tydfil council and Mr Christou's investment.
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