Caerphilly town’s old library building is opening its doors again as a new community coffee shop.
Town residents Angela and Ed Crabtree have spent the last three months revamping the space into a family-friendly coffee shop and play area.
The couple, who have three daughters, successfully bid to lease the council-owned building following a public consultation.
Angela, 30, said: “One day walking the dog in the park I passed the building and thought it would make an ideal coffee shop. I came home and told Ed and he said ‘Why not?’”
The building, in Morgan Jones Park, closed when it was replaced by a new £5.2 million library in Caerphilly town centre last year.
A public consultation was subsequently launched by Morgan Jones ward councillor James Pritchard and the Crabtrees were selected to open their new social venture – appropriately called The Old Library.
Ed, an accountant with bio-tech company Thermo Fisher, added: “We got the final go ahead in June this year and we’ve been busy ever since.
“It has taken us three months to gut and completely renovate the place.
“Having three daughters, a family dog, and living locally, means we are always in the park and we didn’t want to see this building fall into the wrong hands.”
The Old Library is set to have a family play area, a baby sensory room, a bring and borrow book scheme and a board game library. Works from the Caerphilly Arts Society will be displayed on the walls and there will also be free wi-fi and discounts for teenagers.
Angela said: “The response we have received for this project has been amazing and we hope the local community will be as proud of The Old Library as we are.”
Cllr Pritchard added: “The Old Library is an exciting new development and credit must be given to Angela and Edward for their fantastic efforts.”
The Old Library opens on Saturday September 19 at 10am.
Hopefully this small business is a success but I see it as being very seasonal and weather dependent. The business will rely on older people throughout the year but become a snack bar for the park in the summer months when it is sunny. If the business branches out to take away food in the summer it will be very successful with families visiting the park all day.
Echoing Dean`s comment, it is all gratitude to Councillor Jamie Pritchard, Morgan
Jones Ward Labour Councillor, who`s original, almost single handed actions in consulting the community, seeking ideas for uses for this building, and, eventually in respect to bringing this new business about was largely unsupported by others except the people of the Morgan Jones Ward.
Now the building has been saved for the use of everyone who wants to make use of it.
Best of luck to them. I’m no business man but it seems like they may be onto something if they can do the bulk of their businesses during the summer months and convince the oldies and young mums in during the wet months.
Good luck to them. It’s just a shame the council didn’t knock the building down and replace it with something purpose built and more attractive to match it’s surrounding, or at least change the front of the building.