New cafe plan for shopping arcade
A historic shopping arcade in Walsall could be featuring a new cafe if proposals are given the go-ahead by planners.
Walsall Council has received an application for the change of use of a vacant unit in the Victorian Arcade in the town centre from a shop to a cafe.
If approved, the cafe would serve cakes, doughnuts, pasta dishes, sandwiches and hot drinks.
Representatives of the applicant said the new cafe would help boost the economy and provide healthy competition for other food outlets in Walsall town centre.
In their application, they said: “The site is set in a busy shopping district in Walsall town centre.
“The site is surrounded by various shops and trades and attracts a large customer base from around the Midlands.
“The building itself is of historical significance. Built during the early part of the 20th century, the building features harmoniously art-deco and Victorian styles on both facades of the building.
“Detailing is mostly on the first and second floors as most of the shop fronts at ground level have some modernising features but the original timber work is intact.
“The proposal involves the change of use from a general retail shop to a cafe.
“The town has various food and drinks shops dotted around the centre and this shop will be good for economy as well as for business and competition.
“The shop will have very low intensity food preparation. There will be no frying or cooking except the serving of cold sandwiches, pasta dishes, hot drinks, cakes and general cold snacks.
“There will be a microwave to heat up pasties and other ready made foods.
“There will be no bearing on the external look of the building and no impact to the fabric of the building both internally or externally. The development will be very sympathetic to the building.”
Planners are currently considering the application.
