Just over two months ago The Specialty coffee shop in Nottingham served its last customer - or so fans thought. But now it's back under new ownership.
The couple who originally founded the business blamed the pandemic, the crashing economy and the cost of living crisis when they announced the closure in November 2022 to the dismay of regulars who loved the artisan coffee, Italian sandwiches and cakes.
However, a few weeks later it was revealed the laid-back rustic cafe would be reopening with the help of "local investors." And today (Wednesday, January 25) is the day. Lucy Giacone and her partner Michelangelo (known as Miky to regulars) Franco, who originally opened the coffee shop in 2016, are no longer involved.
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Baz Samara, a 20-year-old graphic design student at Nottingham Trent University, was one of the first to return, working on his laptop with an espresso. He said: "It's a really lovely place and it's exciting to see it back. It was sad when it closed. I wasn't a 'regular regular' but it's a shame to see a big part of the community shut.
"It's always been a place that genuinely cares about the coffee and you can come to get reliably good coffee. It's a nice environment."
For now, it's just coffee and cakes, while a revamp, both inside and out, is going on at the property on the corner of Friar Lane and Maid Marian Way. Revealing the reopening on social media the new owners said: "As you may have noticed we are currently working on a huge interior and exterior refresh so please bare with us.
"Whilst our kitchen is still being designed, we are delighted to open the Specialty doors for coffee and cakes from local bakers. It will take some time getting up to speed but our aim is to bring back what you loved and more."
The cakes are from Beeston-based Doughmother, her first wholesale customer. Customers can enjoy the sweet treats with an espresso, cortado, flat white or any other of the hot Specialty drinks such as a turmeric latte or tea.
The cafe, which was crowned Nottingham Independent Business of the Year within 12 months of opening, is considered one of the top places in the city centre for a caffeine fix by coffee aficionados along with 200 Degrees, Cartwheel, Blend, Kigali and Effy.
More than 400 people liked an Instagram post about the reopening. It's in Nottingham said: "Fantastic news" while Josef Brown-Needham commented: "I’m so excited! Well done to everyone that helped, a real treasure to Nottingham."
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