Five-figure investment for cafe which opened two weeks before lockdown

A family-run business which opened in Coventry two weeks before lockdown has re-opened with a new-look and a five-figure investment.

Cornelia Papureanu launched Papp’s Cafe in Holbrook Lane, Holbrooks but despite being forced to close due to Covid-19 and with support from the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) Growth Hub, takeaway customers are being welcomed with social distancing measures in place.

During the enforced closure, Papureanu has invested more money into the business by buying a whippy ice-cream machine and a slush ice-type machine to sell iced coffees as well as changing the menu.

“When I first wanted to set up a business, I contacted Coventry City Council and they put me in touch with the Growth Hub and Gavin Barnett called me to tell me exactly the steps I needed to take,” said Papureanu, who hails from Romania and runs Papp’s Café with her husband, Jay, and son, George.

“I used to work in marketing and advertising in TV in Romania and I have wanted to open a café for the last ten years.

“I moved to England six years ago and I have been working slowly towards this since then.

“We have invested almost £30,000 in the business and this is a coffee shop selling fresh roasted coffee from Monsoon Estates along with sandwiches, salads, cakes and smoothies as well as an online business.

“We wanted to open a business where people can try something a little bit different as well as traditional refreshments and food and the feedback from customers is that they are enjoying our cakes and coffee.

“I know it will be a very, very difficult year for me but we have re-arranged the shop while it was closed and bought two new machines so that we could re-open following the new social distancing rules.”

Gavin Barnett, business navigator at the CWLEP Growth Hub, said “When Cornelia came to us, she said she had a dream of running her own coffee shop and it is great to see that become a reality despite the set-back of lockdown.

“She had a vision and she has listened and acted on the advice to get the business up-and-running.

“She is very adaptable – I went to visit Papp’s Café before lockdown and again a week ago and it has changed completely. She has re-assessed the menu and the kind of food and drinks her customers were saying they wanted and she has acted by bringing in an ice-cream machine and chilled coffee machine. We wish her the best of luck.”