THE team behind the project to turn a former pub in Crickhowell High Street into shops and flats are celebrating after signing up their final tenants.
Corn Exchange Crickhowell Ltd agreed leases for their last remaining retail unit and the last flat last week.
The new shop will be called ‘The Emporium’ and will sell crafts, collectables, vintage and retro goods. It will be run by Lindsey Jones, who was born in Crickhowell and plans to move back to the area from Swansea.
The two deals mean the campaign to save the old Corn Exchange pub from being turned into a supermarket has gone from being an idea to a success within three years. The deals also come just one year after work began to convert the building.
After signing the lease for The Emporium with Lindsey, Corn Exchange managing director Dean Christy said: “We are delighted to welcome Lindsey back to Crickhowell. This is another example of The Corn Exchange offering opportunities to people who want to start new and different small businesses in the town. And we are also thrilled that the last flat has been let – meaning The Corn Exchange is now fully occupied, paying its way and on course to deliver a return to everyone who backed the project with their own money.”
Lindsey said: “I have been an avid antique collector for 10 years and have been dealing in them independently for the past two years via the internet and at antique fairs.
“I have decided that now is the perfect time for me to move my business into a set location and where better than Crickhowell?
“The town is a wonderful place with so many opportunities and I feel that a shop selling crafts, collectables, vintage and retro will really thrive here.”
Corn Exchange Crickhowell’s communications director, Tim Jones, has been closely involved in the selection of tenants. He said: “Finding the right businesses to go in the Corn Exchange has been a challenging and at times difficult process. But we have succeeded; with Wales First Zero Waste shop, Natural Weigh; the return to Crickhowell of the very popular Odonnell Bakehouse; and now Lindsey’s new and exciting retro-furniture and collectables emporium.
“Just over three years after the campaign started, and just over one year after we started converting the building, we have succeeded in our aims of protecting the character of Crickhowell and bringing interesting new businesses in to town. We have provided new homes and the businesses in The Corn Exchange are creating new jobs – what a result!”
Shareholders who want to find out more about the project’s most recent successes can do so by attending Corn Exchange Crickhowell Ltd’s AGM, which is being held on Wednesday, May 23 at 6pm at the Old Rectory Hotel in Llangattock.