00:00Hello, I'm James Viparinovich and I'm sat here inside space.
00:04This used to be the canteen of the Express and Star building.
00:07It's now the first part of the newspaper building.
00:09I'm here with the manager Molly Fleming to talk about the past and indeed the future of the place.
00:14Let's talk about the past year first of all, because it opened last November.
00:18You've obviously learnt a lot since about what worked and what didn't work.
00:21Yeah, so we took the first couple of months to play with so many different things
00:26and see what really worked in Wolverhampton.
00:31Obviously there were some teething issues. We really found our niche and our market.
00:38Obviously the one thing I'm constantly saying is that not one day is ever the same here.
00:44We have such a diverse market as well.
00:48So it's really learning how to bend and flow with all of that as well.
00:53And the big thing has been looking at how you've sort of realised a cafe and a bar doesn't quite sort of work for strategy.
01:00It's more the cafe culture, isn't it?
01:02Yes, I think, you know, we've really found that the cafe is the bread and butter.
01:07And, you know, everyone needs to eat.
01:10Everyone, you know, is looking for somewhere that they can work that's, you know, since Covid as well.
01:16I think it's really important to kind of come out of that space of being at home or in the office even.
01:24And the space gives it a really nice place to do that as well.
01:30Obviously we've been talking about the past with space.
01:34But obviously there's a bright future coming because I know you're going to be doing a relaunch very soon.
01:37Yes, so on the 4th of September we are looking to relaunch space.
01:41So it's the same place but it's a new space.
01:44And with saying that, you know, we've learned so much over the past nearly year now.
01:51And we have found a direction that really works for us and works for Wolverhampton.
01:56And one thing that is coming up in that time, you're obviously doing a lot of events,
02:00is going to be an Expressing Star reunion because this obviously used to be our building.
02:04Yes, so on the 18th of September we are inviting anyone that had a hand in the Expressing Star to come and really see what it's become.
02:14So, the ultimate thing to remember about this place is it is a space to work.
02:19It is a space to meet out with people.
02:21It is a space to just come and have a nice cup of coffee and a good bagel and meet charming people like Molly.
02:27So get yourself down here in the future.
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