Great progress with building works!

Exciting news for January 2011! The Real Food store now has a General Manager and an Assistant Manager! We are delighted to have appointed two dynamic and talented people- to be introduced to you properly soon. Happy to report that works in the store are on track and good progress with building, plumbing and electrics and very soon store refit and decoration. Click on the ning logo on home page to view photos of the building works with captions.

The landlord's contractors have been on site since mid December and are now completing their programme of works. They have successfully knocked through the interconnecting walls between the two units to create one unified space. Work has gone smoothly even though at ground floor level some unexpected rain water down pipes were discovered! Luckily this was only a minor issue and the knock through went ahead as planned.

Because the store is on a slope, there is a slight change in floor level between the two units. This means that when you walk from the fresh veg and bakery side of the store (down hill) into the ground floor cafe/ take-away counter & packed goods side of the store (up hill) you will go up a slight ramp.

New disabled toilet! This has been installed on the ground floor on the cafe / take away counter side. The builders are still working on the waste disposal pipe trench for this as well as drainage for ‘Emma’s Bread’ bakery. They are also building the wall towards the back of the store to create space for the store room. Suppliers will be able to unload directly into this store room by parking at the rear of the store.

The access to the café /take away counter side of the store will be a gradual ramp from pavement level. The coffee bar that will run along the ground floor  shop window will be at usual table height to be welcoming and usable for customers with wheelchairs and those with prams and children. Anyone out there got some good ideas for how to best park prams? There is limited space in the store itself …

Upstairs the knock through of the inter-connecting walls went well and we now have a fabulous big and airy space that will accommodate the upstairs café and a small kitchen for which the plumbing and electrical points are now being installed. Soon the ‘carcasses’ for till points and shop display will arrive and a busy carpenter will be creating some fittings that will be unique to Real Food.

Flooring for ground floor and upstairs café levels will be tough wearing eco-friendly marmoleum in some gorgeous colours that work very well with the Real Food logo … we are nearly ready to start painting walls and ceilings …

Emma the baker has ordered her bakery equipment and can’t wait to get in and start making her wonderful bread in the store! The Real Food team have been busy checking out auctions and we have made some excellent good value purchases of catering equipment e.g. dish washer (a must!). We are in the middle of sourcing café furniture.

Work on the exterior of the store will start soon. This will include refreshing the rather tired looking walls! Plans for a striking Real Food sign are being worked up right now.

So, phew, we are on track for an opening in March … watch this space!!