New Galway business operates from former ATM!

IF you’re not careful walking along Headford Road and Galway Retail Park you could be missing out on one of the city’s newest businesses in a mere blink of an eye.

BY CLODAGH McGRATH

A tiny coffee hut located underneath the Retail Park’s mast must qualify for the title of Galway’s, and maybe Ireland’s, smallest shop – so small, in fact, that it previously operated as an ATM machine.

Run by husband and wife, Susan and Bosco Joyce, Lavazza Coffee shop offers first class customer service, and despite its confined space, they deal with every customer with a warm smile and friendly chat.

Living in Mervue, the couple had always wanted to open a small outlet where they could serve the people of Galway hot beverages as they have an abundance of experience in the retail industry.

“I’ve been in the hotel/restaurant side of things since I was eleven, my mother used to do the casual bookings for the Ardilaun Hotel and I guess she roped me into things,” Susan explained.

Dealing with customers is something Susan has always enjoyed. “I’ve had various different jobs, for instance working in Digital but I always fell back to the waitressing, that aspect of catering and service. I just absolutely love working with customers.”

Open since May, the coffee hut offers a plethora of goods including tea, coffee, sandwiches, ice cream, doughnuts, muffins, soft drinks, chocolate bars and fruit shots.

It is a feat in itself that such a range of goods fit into the tiny shop, as it doesn’t exceed 25 square feet.

“You literally couldn’t swing a cat in it,” Susan quipped. “There are only two places where you can stand in it, at the hatch and at the back door.”

Revealing how the opportunity arose, Susan said: “Bosco works as part of the management company in Park Retail, so when AIB moved out the management came to him and asked can we do something with it. We jumped at the chance.”

Taking such a small space and turning it into something that offers so much illustrates the entrepreneurial and innovative side to the Joyce’s.

“Customers love it. I think they enjoy how quaint and cute it is. They think it’s terribly clever to have utilised such a small place and offer something new to the community. I love that people are getting a buzz out of it.”

For more on this story, see this week’s Galway City Tribune