Why Café Retro in Blackpool is on offer at £12,000 for aquick sale
“This is not a decision I’ve taken lightly - Café Retro has been my pride and joy”
A Blackpool café is up for sale with a £12,000 asking price after the owner decided to step away less than a year after taking over the business.
Café Retro at South Shore is being marketed for a quick sale, with owner Steven Davis citing health reasons, along with the stresses of running the business.
Steven opened the café last autumn and it has gained glowing reviews from customers for its retro feel, premium produce and food cooked fresh to order.
The premises on Lytham Road have just over four years left on the lease and rent is £750 per month, with no business rates to pay.
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In a heartfelt post on Facebook, Steven says: “After a lot of soul-searching and many sleepless nights, I’ve made the incredibly difficult decision to put Café Retro up for sale.
“This is not a decision I’ve taken lightly. Café Retro has been my pride and joy.
“I’ve invested a huge amount of time, energy, money and passion into creating something I genuinely hoped would become a special place for the local community and visitors to Blackpool alike.
“The reality is that running a small independent business is incredibly demanding.
“While there have been many highs, there have also been challenges and stresses that, over time, have taken away some of the enjoyment that inspired me to open the café in the first place.
“Unfortunately, due to a number of unforeseen circumstances over the past year, we’ve also experienced periods where the café has had to close temporarily.
“That inconsistency has made things especially difficult and has made it harder to build the momentum that any growing business needs.
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“I’ve reached a point where I feel Café Retro deserves someone with fresh energy, fresh ideas and the enthusiasm to take it to the next level.
“With the right owner, I genuinely believe there is still huge potential here, especially with the busiest time of year now approaching.
“On a personal level, I also need to start putting my health first. Some of you may not know that I have a heart condition and suffer with arthritis in my feet and lower legs.
“When you combine that with the stress and pressures of running a business, plus spending long days on your feet, it inevitably starts to take its toll.
“I’ve always tried to push through and keep going, but there comes a point where you have to be honest with yourself and recognise that your health needs to come first.
“As difficult as this decision has been, I know it’s the right one.
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“This isn’t goodbye just yet, but it is the start of a new chapter. Café Retro now needs a new owner who can give it the time, energy and fresh lease of life it deserves.”
When he took over the business, Steven said that the dream of running his own café had been with him since he was a teenager.
He originally trained as a chef and spent 15 years running a cleaning business before opening a live music venue in West Yorkshire.
The sale includes £400 worth of stock and anyone interested is asked to send Steven a direct message via the Café Retro Facebook page.