By Tilly Walder
Newport rejoiced as another empty store opened this week, as the Redrup family business, Grace’s Bakery, set up their latest venture. Their new café, Grace’s Corner, on 40 High Street, opened to the public on Wednesday, to queues of eager customers seeking a warm, festive treat. We popped round last week to see the team hard at work, and to ask them a few questions about how Grace’s Corner was progressing.
‘Truly a family business’
Running since 1997 in Ryde, and named after Ray Redrup’s grandmother, it was obvious that Grace’s long-term success has a common theme: family. Throughout our conversation, Ray’s pride in his family and what they have accomplished shone through. “This is really a truly family business, which is unusual in this day and age,” he emphasised.
Their ever-increasing popularity pushed the family to search for ways to accommodate all the keen customers they didn’t have the room for. They’ve worked hard over the past few months to get the café open for Christmas, undertaking what Ray described as a ‘raft of jobs’.
Adopting the rich heritage
Some will recognise the eighteenth century building as Lennard’s shoe shop, or perhaps Specsavers, or maybe even the hairdressers that used to reside upstairs. The Redrups have been keen to preserve the history of the building, and have kept elements of the shop’s original features, including a tiled mosaic panel on the floor, and an intricately wrought pole that was hidden behind a false wall. Whilst the building was being renovated, posters were hung in the shop’s windows, illustrating the building’s rich heritage. One anecdote from a passer-by really caught Ray’s daughter, Sarah’s, attention: “One of the photos we found was of someone who used to work at Leonard’s that got married in the ’60s.
“One day, I was tapped on the shoulder by a gentleman who was very shocked to see his wedding photo being displayed in the window!”
Another gem was unearthed when Ray discovered that their shop in Ryde (originally Duffets flour mill), and this new building, had been owned by the same two gentlemen decades ago. “How fitting it is then, that Grace’s now owns both of these two buildings!” Ray remarked.
“It’s really nice speaking to people about their memories of the building, and we hope that, when people come in, they might see some of these old details, and it will trigger memories for them.” Sarah added.
Next steps
As we creep towards the New Year, work is not over for the Redrup family, as their new goal is to finalise the second floor, providing more seating for guests.
Sarah said: “We’re so excited to see what next year is going to bring. We can’t wait to invite you all in for a cup of coffee and some Christmas spirit!”
To find out more about the history of Grace’s Corner, watch our video on Youtube at iw.observer/gracescorner.
Isle of Wight Observer