Could I take over charity shop?

Jm90

Hi All, I would like to set up my own little cafe. I've wanted to do this sometime and have the perfect location which sadly is no longer vacant.
I didn't have the funds needed at the time to start anything when it was to let.
It was 20,000pa and perfect location which I love.

Now it's a pdsa charity shop and someone said I would be able to still get it? Is this correct

Thanks

Annie35

who told you you could still get it? i think there's a general thought that charities pay reduced rent & only hold the property until a proper tenant wants it, im not too sure about that but the only way to find out is to ask the agent.

Savvy_Sue

Was it a cafe before it turned into a charity shop? If not, you might need planning permission for change of use.

Have you got the funds now? Have you drawn up a business plan? Would it get the footfall? Would the footfall appreciate a cafe?

Have you got experience of running a cafe?

There are several threads on this board about setting up and running cafes. Generally we're not that encouraging. It's an easy way to lose money (sometimes a lot of money!) if you haven't thought of EVERY contingency ...

So no guarantee you'd be able to get this set of premises, but equally no guarantee they'd actually be suitable. But research, research, research ...

00ec25

the charity has a commercial lease with the LL. That lease will have an expiry date.

Come back when it is reached, or make the charity a cash offer they won't refuse to surrender their lease. That, or move on...

Jm90

Thank you all. Yes they seemed to think the charity would be paying a reduced rate so I would have priority over the charity shop.

Great points raised. I'm in no huge rush to get up and running. Will be looking at springtime 2018 now or when ever it would be viable,
I have money but I still need money to put into my business. I don't want to go in all guns blazing.

The premises was used for retail before so yes I would need to have change of use granted.
When I was speaking to the owner before they seemed to think that wouldn't be a problem but I didn't go any further into it as not to mess her around.

As I said I don't have all the funds needed at the moment, the foot fall is excellent, beautiful shop front, inviting.
I know it will be hard work.
I worked at a cafe from opening and helped get it off the ground but she was in a little back street and no-one knew they she was there, only by chance and no amount of advertising really changed that.