Polish couple hope cafe in Limerick city starts new ‘habit’
New coffee shop set to open at prominent unit in the heart of O’Connell Street
A NEW cafe is set to open at a prominent unit on Limerick’s main thoroughfare. Polish couple Michal Wilk and Angelina Brodziak, who have been the proprietors of Catherine Street’s Wildberry Cafe for almost eight years, are to expand their empire.
They are opening a new unit at 43 O’Connell Street.
Named Korner_Lia, the outlet will focus more on grab-and-go food, as well as healthy items.
It will be a welcome lease of life at an outlet in O’Connell Street, which has been home to many food outlets in its time.
Up until earlier this year, it was an outlet called Coffee 43.
Prior to that, Habit Coffee operated from the unit, while in the past it has also seen a branch of Cafe Sol and BBs Coffee and Muffins.
Michal said they have had their eye on taking over the unit for a while.
"Our children are growing up, and one of our ideas was to give them a start in life. They can help us, work with us, and if they choose their own way, they can go. We wanted to spread our business as well,” he said.
Angelina said they have built up a loyal customer base at their premises in Catherine Street.
"They are like family to us, and we want to bring that to the other place too. When we decided to take on this place, people asked when was it going to be open,” she said.
"It’s a very good energy when we see all our regular customers and we hope in the other place, it will be the same. This was our thinking,” she added.
Angelina and Michal, who have lived in Limerick for the past 20 years, said while signature items found at the Wildberry Cafe will remain, there will be new foods introduced.
"We love food, we love creating new food,” said Angelina.
Michal acknowledged opening a second shop in the city centre is a big risk.
"But we were worriers when we opened this place a few years ago. There were the same questions,” he said.
Wildberry Cafe employs up to 10 staff, and it’s hoped Korner_Lia will initially have two staff working there, a figure which Michal and Angelina hope grows in the future for their new venture.