A former restaurant that has stood empty for years is to be given a new lease of life as a vintage shop, or as the owner puts it - "a joyful retro wonderland". The landmark building which used to be Ben Bowers, an iconic restaurant loved by many, and later 1877, will become Happy Sunday, selling retro fashions, homewares and jewellery.
The corner property, at the junction of Derby Road and Wollaton Street, in Canning Circus, has been empty for well over a decade and in 2020 was boarded up. Work began to restore the Grade II listed building in 2022 and turn the upper floors into flats.
Work to set out the shop over two floors has started and a sign in the window says it will be "opening soon". It marks an expansion for the brand which started off selling in the Hopkinson Building, in Station Street, nine months ago.
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The business is run by trained seamstress and avid collector, Bryony Selway, who calls herself "the queen of kitsch". Bryony, who is well known for her colourful style and passion for sustainability, has made it her mission to inspire others to break away from fast fashion and instead choose pre-loved pieces.
Happy Sunday describes itself as a "colourful bazaar of vintage fashion, jewellery, mid-century homeware and antiques based in Nottingham." The Victorian building was once home to Boots the Chemist and a Post Office. Vintage shops are growing in number in Nottingham. Happy Sunday will join Hopkinson, COW, Wild Clothing, Argang and 101 Vintage.
Bryony said: "The shop will comprise of a ground floor and basement. We’ve officially started putting our stamp on this incredible space. The ceiling is now a beautiful sunshine yellow and we have been working hard to make the space as inviting and joyful as possible. Being in such an iconic Nottingham building is really exciting and fits our brand perfectly."
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