Meet Geoff Lam Independents
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
MEET GEOFF LAM PARTNER AT FACULTY COFFEE WHY BIRMINGHAM? I ran a coffee shop in St Paul’s Square for 7 years and wanted to move into the city centre and get to know and network with other independent retailers. Since we set up our new business four months ago, the people of Birmingham have been really supportive and many previous customers have followed us to our new location in Piccadilly Arcade, as well as many new customers that love to shop the independent scene in Birmingham. DESCRIBE THE INDEPENDENT SCENE IN THE CITY IN THREE WORDS: In its infancy TELL US WHAT YOUR FAVOURITE PRODUCT IS AT THE MOMENT? Our salted caramel pecan and dark chocolate brownies – they are so rich and fudgy! GEOFF RECOMMENDS…. DO YOU HAVE AN INTERESTING BIRMINGHAM FACT TO Purnell’s Bistro for cocktails SHARE? Autograph for style A 5.5 metre statue of King Kong by Nicholas Monro was Six Eight Kafe for coffee commissioned in 1972 for display in Manzoni Gardens in Bistro 1874 for a date The Bull Ring, where is stood for six months. It was later Pure Bar for a drink with your mates displayed elsewhere in Birmingham, then in Edinburgh, Marco Benito for beauty and is now in Penrith. Left for Dead Records for good music in store Disorder Boutique for being a ground breaking independent WHAT SHOULD WE LOOK OUT FOR FROM YOU IN THE COMING MONTHS? We’re really excited about our Cold Brews, which will WHERE WILL YOU BE SOAKING UP THE SUN THIS be available very soon, as well as a wider selection of SUMMER? savoury items on the menu. We’re also really excited I’ll be enjoying a Meat Shack burger at Digbeth Dining about the a number of other independents that are soon Club to hit the city – the scene is growing! INDEPENDENTS SHOP SHOP INDEPENDENTS Independent stores are integral to the vast and diverse retail offer in Birmingham, bringing character and vibrancy to the city centre shopping experience. With new independents opening every year, there is always something new to explore in the many arcades, centres and streets within the city. With a sense of community and spirit of collaboration, it’s the personal service, unique products and specialist advice that sets independents apart. This summer, ShoppinginBirmingham.com is celebrating the thriving independent scene in Birmingham. We’re introducing you to just a few of the faces behind the hundreds of independent stores, cafés, bars, restaurants and services across the city centre. Be sure to shop the city this summer and discover something special for yourself. For the latest news, offers, events and competitions direct from Birmingham city centre stores, visit: ShoppinginBimingham.com @ShoppingInBham ShoppingInBirmingham CONTENTS: FACULTY COFFEE 4-5 LIQUOR STORE 6-7 ALL GREEK 8-9 CLEMENTS & CHURCH 10-11 UN MUNDO 12-13 ISLAND BAR 14-15 ATOO 16-17 PROJEKT21 18-19 ALFIE BIRD’S 20-21 LEFT FOR DEAD RECORDS 22-23 DIRECTORY (A TO Z) 24-29 SHOPPING MAP 30-31 3 FACULTY – PICCADILLY ARCADE MEET GEOFF LAM facultycoffee.com Twitter @facultycoffee PARTNER AT FACULTY Faculty is a small, quality focused coffee and tea shop in Birmingham’s city centre. Located in the historic Piccadilly Arcade, the shop serves brewed drinks to enjoy in or takeaway, as well as a range of retail coffee beans and equipment for sale. WHY BIRMINGHAM? I ran a coffee shop in St Paul’s Square for seven years and wanted to move into the city centre to get to know and network with other independent retailers. Since we set up our new business four months ago, the people of Birmingham have been really supportive. Lots of customers have followed us to our new location in Piccadilly Arcade, as well as many new customers that are loyal to the independent scene in Birmingham. DESCRIBE THE INDEPENDENT SCENE IN THE CITY IN THREE WORDS: In its infancy. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PRODUCT AT THE MOMENT? Our salted caramel pecan and dark chocolate brownies – they are so rich and fudgy! GEOFF RECOMMENDS…. DO YOU HAVE AN INTERESTING BIRMINGHAM FACT TO Ginger’s Bar at Purnell’s Bistro for cocktails. SHARE? Autograph for style. A 5.5 metre statue of King Kong by Nicholas Monro was Six Eight Kafé for coffee. commissioned in 1972 for display in Manzoni Gardens in Bistro 1874 for a date. The Bull Ring, where it stood for six months. It was later Pure Bar for a drink with your mates. displayed elsewhere in Birmingham, then in Edinburgh, Marco Benito for beauty. and is now in Penrith. Bring back King Kong! Left for Dead Records for good music in store. Disorder Boutique for being a ground breaking independent. WHAT SHOULD WE LOOK OUT FOR FROM YOU IN THE COMING MONTHS? We’re really excited about our Cold Brews, which will WHERE WILL YOU BE SOAKING UP THE SUN THIS be available very soon, as well as a wider selection of SUMMER? savoury items on the menu. We’re also really excited I’ll be enjoying a Meat Shack burger at Digbeth Dining about a number of other independents that are soon to hit Club. the city – the scene is growing fast. 5 LIQUOR STORE – GREAT WESTERN ARCADE MEET PHIL HAZEL liquorstoreclothing.com Twitter @liquorstore_est OWNER OF LIQUOR STORE Instagram @liquorstore Liquor Store opened its doors in February 2012 at Great Western Arcade. The store is proud to use its expertise to bring customers an eclectic mix of heritage and next generation brands. Each brand has been handpicked to represent its customer with the finest denim, clothing collections, footwear and accessories from around the globe. WHY BIRMINGHAM? PHIL RECOMMENDS…. The store is reacting to the ever crowded high street and fast fashion lines. Brands have been chosen for their The potential of the city is huge, and in our area of retail The Jekyll & Hyde for cocktails - they have that 1920’s history, great quality, new ideas, subtle detailing and for the team’s love and appreciation of what they stand for. there was an opportunity to bring something different prohibition feel with their gin parlour. Liquor Store uses house brands from all over the globe, but also carries ‘Made in England’ brands. All the brands to the current offering. Also a vast amount of brands we Six Eight Kafé for coffee - all about the coffee! have a fantastic story to tell! The store environment is warm and welcoming and the team strive to deliver a high stock were not already stocked in Birmingham, so we Yorks Bakery for lunch – a great feel and always good standard of customer service through superior product knowledge, passion for the store and their manner. could represent brands from across the globe, which food. were new to the Birmingham consumer. Peel & Stone Bakery for something unique - a little hidden gem offering great bread and bites to eat. Cherry Reds for the best burger - the burger with pulled DESCRIBE THE INDEPENDENT SCENE IN THE CITY IN pork on top is a winner in my book! THREE WORDS: Pasta di Piazza for a date – the best Italian restaurant in Growing, scattered, potential. Birmingham (I think). The Lord Clifden for a drink with your mates - especially in the summer, as the beer garden always has a great TELL US WHAT YOUR FAVOURITE PRODUCT IS AT THE atmosphere with table tennis and a BBQ always taking MOMENT? place. The Ebbets Field Flannel Grounds crew jacket. It’s a The Church for heritage - fantastic old pub, with a collaboration with this brand and ourselves, so we are beautiful bar and booths. the only place in the world where you can buy this jacket. Ebbets make exact replicas of baseball garments from the 1920s to the 1950s. The major difference to other DO YOU COLLABORATE WITH ANY OTHER INDEPENDENTS baseball brands is that they only produce non major IN THE CITY? league baseball pieces from this era. The jacket is what Not currently, but we are looking at putting on a Liquor the stadium workers used to wear and has the team Store party at The Church this summer. logo on the front with the stadium name on the back. We decided to design the same jacket with L for Liquor Store on the front and SPEAKEASY (our strapline) on the back. WHAT’S COMING UP FOR YOU AND YOUR STORE IN THE COMING MONTHS THAT WE SHOULD LOOK OUT FOR? We are currently planning an expansion to our store NOW THAT SUMMER’S HERE, WHERE WILL YOU BE and looking to open a ladies denim store. We hope the SOAKING UP THE SUN IN THE CITY CENTRE? expansion will happen by early next year I usually hit a pub for a beer garden (like the Lord Clifden), or The Church has a good roof terrace. 7 ALL GREEK - STEPHENSON STREET MEET LAVRENTIS KONSTANTINIDIS Twitter @allgreekdeli PARTNER AT ALL GREEK All Greek is a small family run independent food shop specialising in fine Greek food products. The store has been open for seven months and all products are hand selected from the best producers all around Greece. WHY BIRMINGHAM? LAVRENTIS RECOMMENDS…. Birmingham has got masses of potential! It has a rich The Bureau for a cocktail - great cocktail menu and cultural background but has not quite yet built the chilled atmosphere. reputation of other cities in the foodie scene. In recent The Lost and Found for style - a grand building with years a lot of effort has been put in by locals to boost beautiful decor. the city’s foodie profile.