A café owner has re-opened at a new premises with a plan to keep the community healthy.
Tania's of Hampstead has moved to College Crescent, near Swiss Cottage Tube station, from Hampstead Antique & Craft Emporium in Heath Street.
Some 25 traders were forced to move after former owner Staplepine sold the emporium in January although Tania's had a lease which didn't run out until May 2024.
After an uncertain few months, Ghassan Akar, owner of Tania's, claimed the emporium owners finally paid him off and he said he put the money towards a deposit on the former wine shop in Northways Parade.
The 71-year-old moved in and opened last month, offering falafals, cheese toasties, sandwiches, waffles, and his own blended teas, chocolate and condiments.
One big change is his rent which has risen from £7,000 a year in the emporium to £30,000 a year.
"It's going to be difficult but this is not a bad place, I am very happy," he said. "We're still in NW3 here so we haven't deserted our customers, it's a straight walk down the road and this is a prime location with lots of potential."
Since opening Ghassan and his son Mohamed, 32, have stripped, painted and cleaned the unit, as well as buying tables and chairs. They plan to put mirrors on the walls and plants on shelves.
There's a store room and kitchen at the rear where they can prepare food but there is still some work to do to sort the electrics. A new sign on the shop front is planned.
Ghassan said they are starting a new concept called 'you choose it we juice it', where customers will be given a basket and will choose what fruit and vegetables they want and Tania's will juice them.
"They can drink it here and what is left we will put in bottles for them," he added. "We are trying to get our customers to lead a healthier lifestyle. We do the hard work, they do the drinking and we'll be as reasonable as we can price wise."
From 2020 to 2022, Tania's was in the top 10 per cent of best restaurants worldwide according to TripAdvisor and second of 2,562 cafes in London.
"Business isn't too bad, we are on the road, doing the right thing, that's important," Ghassan said.
"People who come here are coming back so that's a sign of quality and service and word of mouth is spreading as well."
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