A FORMER Subway on 207 Dalton Road in Barrow has been transformed into a community charity shop and café.
Re:new has moved from its former premises on 63 Cavendish Street to the new retail space.
Tim Jeffries, who manages the shop, said that the response has been 'overwhelming' since it opened this week.
Looking at the new sitting area (Image: Re:new)
Subway occupied the site until April 2019, when it moved to a new home further up the road.
Explaining why they moved to Dalton Road, Mr Jeffries said: "We felt we need to do more. We have taken inspiration from what Re:new has done in Carlisle and Penrith where they also have a similar sitting area for people."
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Re:new is associated with the Methodist and URC churches but Mr Jeffries said that they work 'closely' with other churches as well.
He said that the money the shop receives is invested back into the community through donations. Mr Jeffries also said that some of the items that they receive will be given to those in need.
Re:new has moved from its former premises on Cavendish Street, which it has occupied (Image: Re:new)
Re:new has had a presence in Barrow since 2018. The café and sitting space will add a new element to the shop, where people in the community can gather and meet each other.
"We've got seating for 14 people down the one side - it has proven popular. It's not really much of a café just as a coffee machine and a kettle," Mr Jeffries said.
The space's main function is as a space for people to meet and have a chat, and the drinks and biscuits are sold on a 'pay as you feel' basis.
The former Subway on Dalton Road where Re:new is now (Image: Google Maps)
Mr Jeffries said that there will be groups that will 'come along and use the space' as well in the future.
"One thing I instil in our volunteers is at least say hello to everybody that goes through the door. Currently 'hello' might be the one thing that that person hears all day," he added.
When he was asked if the space might be used as a warm space or a way for people to socialise during the cost of living crisis, Mr Jeffries replied 'we hope so.'
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