Back in the day, it was one of York’s top toy shops.
First as the Early Learning Centre and then later as Toymaster. But the shop on Market Street has been empty since the latter closed.
Now, though, two York coffee businesses are coming together for an exciting new collaboration at the premises.
Independent bar and coffee shop North South, on Bootham, and York-based coffee roasting company Divine Coffee Roasters, are opening a brand new specialty coffee shop together 22-24 Market Street.
The two brands have posted a short video on social media teasing the upcoming partnership.
The coffee shop will be centred around freshly roasted coffee from Divine Coffee Roasters – who also have their own coffee shop, Divine Coffee, on Micklegate.
The inspiration for the collaboration came from a kindred love of excellent roasted coffee.
“We’re both independent York businesses with a love for genuinely good, well roasted coffee,” Laura Wood, co-owner of North South, told YorkMix. “Our values are in-line and our business models are based around friendly customer service.
“It will be something really special!”
As well as coffee, The Divine Project will also be offering an array of sandwiches, pastries and cakes.
Work is now underway to convert the premises into the new coffee shop. It is expected to open within the next couple weeks, an exact opening date is yet to be confirmed.
It will make that corner of York particularly appealing to coffee lovers, as the new business is next door to the large Costa Coffee which opened at the end of 2021.
- This article was amended to include the fact that it became a Toymaster after the Early Learning Centre closed