Back to the future for new Italian coffee shop in Limerick

EIGHT new jobs have been created with the opening of a new coffee shop in the city centre.

And it’s a case of back to the future for well-known businessman Shane Gleeson.

For his new barista bar is located in a unit which was once used as a general shop by his father John.

The outlet measures just 10 foot wide and 20 foot deep, and is designed in the manner of a traditional Italian coffee outlet.

It is the first branch of Caffè Vergnano 1882 in Ireland.

The oldest coffee roaster in Italy, the firm was founded in Turin.

Mr Gleeson, who runs the neighbouring Spar shop, said: “I had it in my mind that I wanted to open a barista unit with the shop. I was travelling in Europe over a number of years trying a number of different coffees. I had it in my head that I wanted to go for a traditional Italian coffee.”

While on the Mediterranean, he approached management at Caffè Vergnano, initially to see if he could purchase their coffee to use in Limerick.

"They came back with a counter-offer, that they would set up a new Caffè Vergnano here. Over the years, they’ve developed a very efficient way of running their coffee shops. So rather than reinvent the wheel, I’ve taken on board all their suggestions. I’ve opened up with their specific design and layout. It’s making very efficient use out of a very small space,” he said.

Generations of Mr Gleeson’s family worked in the old shop in Catherine Street.

"We all started at the age of nine. My father had a box under the counter for us to stand on to see the customers which all six of us in turn used,” he told Business Leader this week.

Pictures on the walls of the new cafe show off the time when it was a general store.

For now, Caffè Vergnano 1882 will open between 6am and 6pm seven days a week.

"We are trialling it, we are finding our feet. We don't know is there business that early. We’ll wait and see,” concluded Mr Gleeson.