'It would take the wind out of my sails if it closed' - Walsall community cafe set to relaunch with new menu
A four day period when The Table is closed is being used as a 're-training and relaunch period'.
A Walsall community outreach which set up six years ago as an addition to a popular church in town is not closing, but restructuring the business.
The Table has provided a coffee and cake shop which has welcomed thousands of people through its doors since it opened in 2021.
But recently, the community interest company, in Lower Hall Lane close to Walsall Community Church has been feeling the pinch of the economic climate and has had to restructure.
Two full time roles and one flexible hours one have been made redundant and now a new menu is being launched focussing on more healthier options.
James Clark, who founded the project, which welcomes all members of the community through its doors including many varied groups which meet there, said things had been tough recently.
But a four day period between Monday and Friday when The Table is closed is being used as a 're-training and relaunch period'.
He said: "We are a community interest company which means we are not for profit but that doesn't mean we can get funding because of it.
“In fact, because we have been around for so long, it means grants aren't available now that might have been at the start of the project.
"Throughout Covid when allowed and certainly since then we have become a treasured place for people from all areas of the community to meet.
"When a few months ago we held a brainstorming meeting to discuss the way forward, one person said it would take the wind out of his sails if we were to close.
“I can assure everyone in Walsall that is not going to happen, in fact we are looking to open on Sundays which we haven't before and relaunch the menu.
"But as has been well documented, trading conditions are extremely tough in hospitality, with factors including VAT, an increase in the cost of ingredients and the last two budgets hitting us hard.
“So we have reluctantly had to make three people redundant which was incredibly hard because Ray, Brad and Dan were precious to us but we didn't really have any choice.
“It was necessary to do so to maintain the business which we have always seen as more than that, rather a warm and welcoming place for individuals and groups from the community to meet - that will continue.
“We are now closed until this Friday for staff training and then will be open again where we hope to see people once more because we love serving the community."
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