Dylan’s will open a store at the former site of Drew Pritchard’s Antiques in Conwy and hope to submit plans for a restaurant we well. Last week it was revealed that the emporium on High Street had closed as the Salvage Hunters star revealed he was looking for “new pastures”.
Now Dylan’s has confirmed that the site has been snapped up by them.
The group plans to open their second Baked Goods General Store at the site this summer.
The first store in Menai Bridge was a lockdown success story and created eight full time jobs in its first year, proving an instant hit on the Anglesey high street.
It combines a selection of their own baked bread, sweet and savoury baked goods made for their three restaurants and a wide range of local products and produce, including fresh seafood and brands like Halen Mon.
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They hope to repeat this success in Conwy and later apply to open a restaurant on the first and second floors of the building. This would bring another 30 jobs to the site.
Dylan’s had previously tried to open on the quayside in Conwy but the county council later took the decision to not develop the historic quay.
Talking about their new plans Robin Hodgson, one of Dylan’s directors, said: “We had a wonderful response when we opened our store in Menai Bridge. The businesses and customers on the high-street were so welcoming. It was wonderful to see the street become increasingly busy, as shoppers were drawn to shop more locally.”
Dave Retallick, communications manager at Dylan’s, said: “When we first announced that we were moving our lockdown project to a permanent shopfront in Menai Bridge, it was fantastic to see how many people also wanted us to open one in the Conwy/Llandudno area. The thought never left our minds, and it’s so exciting to be able to say ‘yes!’ a year later.”
The shop will initially create new jobs in Conwy through employing a team of up to 10, as well as further positions in Llandudno and Llangefni, at Dylan’s bakery and retail production unit, as the new venture increases the demand for fresh Dylan’s products. Further down the line, there are more development plans already in progress for the site in Conwy,
“This new shop is very much ‘phase one’, as in the future, we hope to develop the building’s first and second floors, and open our fourth restaurant, which we know will bring tens of thousands of visitors to the high street each year", said company director, David Evans.
“The future restaurant would also create an additional 30 jobs at the site, and what Dylan’s hope will be a well visited restaurant will inevitably increase demand for fresh local produce. After a decade of Dylan’s, we’re as committed as ever to our local suppliers, many of whom have worked with us since 2012. A fourth restaurant also means we increase our spend with the same suppliers, such as the fantastic Edwards of Conwy, now our neighbour across the street!”
After opening restaurants in Criccieth, Llandudno, and Menai Bridge, Dylan’s have witnessed increased visitor numbers and economic growth in every town and are convinced that this recipe will also be true for their growing family of General Stores, with the towns of Menai Bridge and Criccieth currently enjoying 100% retail occupancy on their high streets.
“We know that now more than ever, investment needs to be made in our high streets at a time when they’re widely considered to be in decline”, David Evans added. When this beautiful building became available, we jumped at the opportunity to join what is already a wonderful high street= community and safeguard the future of this shopfront for years to come.”
Dylan’s Baked Goods & General Store will be open seven days a week after the refurbishment period is complete, with plans to finish the refit and open doors in July.
