A popular children’s gift shop brand will be the first new retailer to open in Broadmead’s St James Arcade since renovation work began last month.
Bristol’s Mayor, George Ferguson will today officially open ‘Koolmami’, which is also the first retailer in the area to be actively promoting and accepting the Bristol Pound.
The opening of the new store also marks the one year anniversary since the local, family-run Koolmami brand came to Bristol, launching in St Nicholas Market.
Koolmami sells a range of brightly coloured kids’ clothing and wooden toys but the new store will also offer a new baby and parent orientated cafe service, equipped with a baby play pen, baby changing facilities and nursing area.
The store’s owners, Gareth Walling and Lorena Camacho, explain that they were keen to cater for the demands of parents when deciding to open a new shop with combined cafe and play facilities.
Lorena said: “Since having our own baby we have come to understand the demands of parenting a lot better and the many ways that parents are under catered for when shopping. We wanted to offer a comfortable cafe service with childcare facilities that will act as an oasis for mums, dads and grandparents in-between shopping and errands.”
Gareth added: “We are excited to be the owners of the first baby and parent orientated cafe service within the Arcade and surrounding area and are delighted that Mr Ferguson is going to open the new store.”
Several new retailers are also poised to take up occupancy in St James Arcade over the next few months with strong interest being shown by other potential tenants, according to Peter Clarke, Agent at Oscar Clarke Ltd.
Peter said: “We are really pleased that this important historic building is being given a new lease of life and we are committed to rebuilding a strong community of exciting retailers that will provide a new shopping experience for the centre of Bristol.”