A business boost for North Main Street

A NEW Cork coffee shop has displayed a huge vote of confidence in North Main Street by opening their latest store next to the Gate Cinema.

The Priory Coffee Company - owned by a group of local people who have experience in food, coffee, design, architecture, photography and finance - has opened its doors ahead of tonight's Culture Night festivities.

The company is already running a successful venture in Youghal with Priory Coffee Company and Priory Fish & Chips and has plans to open another store in Mallow where they are renovating a building from the 1700s.

They claim to offer a coffee and food experience unique in Cork city and see North Main Street as the perfect location to develop their company ethos.

“We are a food and design-led company, in that we like healthy, tasty, and well-presented food, and practical and sustainable design,” said Carol Murphy, head of marketing and PR for Priory Coffee.

“We were brave enough to open in Youghal when many people were saying they weren't sure about that location. Youghal and its people have been super to us.

 “All the businesses on North Main Street have been very welcoming and they've embraced us. They are very supportive.

“We don't want to go high street. If someone offered us a premises on Patrick Street, we wouldn't take it. We want to be slightly left of centre, in a location that might seem odd to others.” 

The company believes in sensitively repurposing old buildings and working with other local businesses and suppliers.

“We're not rolling out a pre-packaged brand. Every element is designed and considered. We reuse and design things bespoke to each location,” said Ms Murphy.

“Our building in Youghal is dated from 1350 and is called 'The Priory' hence the name of our Coffee Company. We work very closely with planners and conservation officers who have been very supportive.

“We try to have all our producers, food and services as local as possible. Our food, our coffee, even our cups are from Cork. All our takeaway items are compostable from a Cork company called Down2Earth,” Ms Murphy added.

The company is working closely with Brock Lewin from Badger & Dodo boutique coffee roasters in Fermoy on sourcing fresh crop single-origin beans from small holder farms.

Their current coffee comes from the Marcala Region of Honduras and is grown by 37 small producers.

“We are dedicated to preparing and serving fresh seasonal food and it is part of our mission that it has to be full of flavour,” said Ms Murphy.

“We endeavour to serve exceptional coffee and simple flavoursome food including pastries, gourmet toasties, and signature omelettes.

We are delighted to be opening in Cork City and are really looking forward to welcoming everyone to Priory Coffee Co,” she added.