Neighbourhood Café owners to reopen in new home
The owners of Neighbourhood Café, which was destroyed in a fire last month, are relaunching their business just a short stroll from their previous home.
Oisin McEvoy and Ryan Crown will open in the former Hadskis premises in Commercial Court in the first week of December, after chef Niall McKenna offered his old premises to the entrepreneurs.
Having opened their new business last November the Neighbourhood pair woke up on October 3 to find the historic building that housed it on Donegall Street had been devastated by an overnight blaze.
Speaking to LCN, Oison said: “It’s a nightmare. We have to see what can be done insurance wise and make sure we look after our staff for however long it is. The brakes are on a for little bit and all we can do is see where we are at this time next week and next month.
Since then the pals have been inundated with calls and messages of support, with Niall and Joanne McKenna, both friends and customers, offering the fledgling business a practical solution.
“They were very forthcoming about the opportunity with Hadskis. It was sitting dormant and they wanted to see us back up and opening,” said Ryan. “They offered us Hadskis and we jumped at the opportunity.”
Niall added: “Their backs were against the wall, they were gutted. They believe in the area and they’re really good at what they do.
“The whole area came together and people have offered space.”
Niall, who has longer term plans for the former Hadskis site, said he believes Neighbourhood Café will be a perfect fit in the interim, saying: “They’re really good guys. We’re going to have two really good coffee shops in the area, so we’ll be spoilt.”
Ryan said: “We can’t over the amount of support and goodwill shown to us over the last month from other business owners and operators around the Cathedral Quarter and across Belfast.
“We can’t wait to get the doors open and do what we do best.”
