A Nottingham business owner who has had to take time off due to battling cancer is determined to secure the future of his cafe amid huge changes in the area. Haydar Sagir is the owner of GB Cafe on Gedling Street in Sneinton which offers a large selection of lunch and breakfast food including Turkish and English dishes.
Haydar has been running the cafe for the past 12 years but has had to take 18 months out of the business as he recovered from chemotherapy following a diagnosis of bone cancer. He is now cancer free but is concerned about the future of GB Cafe as Sneinton prepares to open Bustler, a huge street food market that could seat up to 500 foodie fans indoors.
He stressed that issues with customers walking past the shop to get to events at the other side of the market and parking prices have also contributed to a difficult trading environment. He has tried to keep prices at the cafe as low as possible to encourage more customers to stop by.
Read more: Severn Trent issues statement on hosepipe ban as drought status issued
"I had a lot of pain in my leg but my GP wasn't sure why this was happening to me. I decided to go private but I still didn't learn what was wrong. I booked to go to Turkey and after visiting a doctor there, I learned I had bone cancer. I had chemotherapy and my leg was broken so I had to stay lying down for months where I couldn't move," he explained.
"I've had chemotherapy and replacements to my hips and bones in my left leg. I'm finished with chemotherapy now and I'm thankfully cancer free. I've been out of my business for a long time but I'm back now so I have started to do more training with staff and bring in new team members to join me."
Haydar has welcomed new team members into the business including Dean Luck who has worked with him before. He is hoping that together they can work on encouraging customers back into the cafe.
Sneinton has undergone a huge period of change during the months that Haydar was away with the development of many new food and drink locations and also the increase in parking prices. All of this has combined to make it a tough market for traders in the area.
There will be further changes as Bustler looks set to open to autumn further changing the landscape of the former market area. Haydar highlights that small businesses need support to stay open.
"I want my business to thrive and prosper as it's everything to me but how can I fight them? We need help from the government so that smaller businesses can fight and stay open," he said.
Another problem facing the cafe is one of the developments in the area where the row of buildings on Gedling street could face being turned into student accommodation. Earlier this year, businesses based there highlighted that they had not heard any updates on what the plans were regarding the development which has meant they are struggling to make long-term business plans.
"No one has told us about the future or what is happening so we are just waiting. I'm waiting for someone to contact me even just to let us know if they are going to start building next year."
He would also like to see more events take place during the daytime which involves more of the local businesses. He feels the customers walk past the cafe on their way to events that happen later in the afternoon after they are closed or in the Avenues which are gated.
"After the traffic lights, everyone just walks down to the events in Snienton market which start after 3pm. If events happen in the Avenues then they close the gates which don't help us as people don't come out and can't come to our shop."
The changing parking situation in Sneinton has also not helped as permits, costs and increased prices have driven customers further affield. There are new plans to introduce fees to streets closer to the city centre in Sneinton which may make parking more difficult again.
"The market is changing and you used to have free parking if you returned within an hour. Now, in front of our shop, they are charging around three pounds. People don't want to come in, sit outside and drink coffee so it's very difficult."
"Our menu is very big and when I am healthy, I can serve all of them but I need to make some changes to make it easier for me. We haven't changed the prices in around seven years ago so that they stay low. We have a lot of different foods like Turkish or English Cuisine."
Reeta Brack also owns One BC Clothing on Gedling Street. She says that the building work which is transforming a new block of student flats doesn't help but hopes it will get easier once this has been completed.
"At the moment, it's not great for business as people can't get in but once the building work is done then it will be better. It's a bit of a waiting game so hopefully, it will be more of a success once people move in. At the moment, it's a bit of a nightmare but hopefully, the future will be good," she said.
Read more:
- Severn Trent outlines how people can 'use water wisely' in driest summer since 1911
- I found 'perfect snack' at new store with something for everyone
- Mum of Nottingham man who died in Spain demands justice
- Family says first trip to Center Parcs has 'put them right off from ever going back'
- The latest weather news from Nottinghamshire Live
