Coffee specialists Trait expand with new cafe and bakery
Boutique coffee chain Trait is launching a new concept cafe and a separate bakery in Belfast, creating 26 jobs as part of a £500,000 investment.
The business currently has three locations, including its original cafe in Comber, the Lisburn Road and College Square East.
It’s now taking on the former Michael Chandler Estate Agents building on the Ormeau Road, transforming it into a new cafe with a large central bar area.
Trait, which is owned by Mark McAllister and Michael O’Neill, will also create a new, large bakery on High Street in Belfast city centre as part of the new cafe location at the former Jackson Sports store — which will be open and viewable to the public and customers.
“The bakery is on the left-hand side as you look in from High Street, and on the right-hand side you’ll be looking into the bakery,” Mr O’Neill said.
“We looked at a number of bars in Korea and Asia [for our Ormeau Road cafe],” Mr McAllister told this the Belfast Telegraph.
“We believe a central bar is unique… we can have stools around the bar, allowing someone to enjoy an espresso and also have that ability to see more V60 and pour over coffee being made. So, there’s a transparency there.
“It’s a great little community. You have Indie Fude, The Vineyard and Memento… there’s a nice hub.
“We’ve been looking at this area for a number of years and I’m originally from there. There’s the sentimental feel. I’m a huge fan of the Ormeau Road, it’s continuing to grow as a destination, not just for food, but for a day out.
“We are excited about bringing something different to the road. Our biggest uniqueness is that we bake our own items in Comber every morning.”
Mr McAllister says Trait’s strength and one of its main selling points is that it produces all of its own baked goods fresh each day.
“They are baked and fresh from 3.30am,” he said.
“We have about 14 items a month along with vegan and gluten-free options, savoury and sweet. We started in 2017 in Comber. That was our platform for bigger and better… let’s get the building blocks started.”
