In for the long grind on Maylor Street in Cork
It’s a new venture by youthful businessman and barista Sean Kennedy, who started in Bandon, West Cork, adding a cafe element to a family-run gift shop, trading as Warren Allen, on Main Street and online.
Warren Allen was set up nine years ago in Bandon by third-generation retailer Jacinta Kennedy, who relocated her business to a larger Bandon premises several years ago, where son Sean added a cafe/coffee shop.
Now, Sean Kennedy has pick up another mantle with his move to Maylor Street and a new cafe business after what he says was a long search for a premises. Fit-out costs are close to €150,00, and of that up to €20,000 has been invested in coffee machines and grinders. “We bought the best you can get, and aim to do the best coffee in Cork,” said Mr Kennedy, laying down a latte-hued gauntlet in an already competitive and high-end market niche, and bean-savvy Cork cafe/coffee culture.
Set to trade seven days a week,7am to 7pm from Monday to Saturday with a slightly later, lie-in start on Sundays, Warren Allen has taken over the restaurant premises previously occupied by Banna Thai, a popular restaurant whose owners retired last year for health reasons.
The lease deal for the private investor owner of the c 2,000 sq ft 15 Maylor Street was negotiated by Lia Dennehy of Savills. Rent on the two-storey building is understood to be c €38,00 pa.
It’s adjacent to the new Elverys (formerly Tommy Mahers sport shop) which connects Maylor Street to Oliver Plunkett Street, and other neighbours include Smyths, Brown Thomas, Cafe Idaho, and the recently re-opened Kielys take-away chip shop, back frying after nine years empty.
Kielys is now leased by Italian couple Fabio and Fiorella Delicata, who also have a traditional fish and chip business in Carrigaline; the Maylor Street lease was negotiated for retired owner Mattie Kiely by estate agent Kevin Silke.
Savills, 021-4271371.
