A restaurant that promised it was ‘coming soon’ back in 2023 appears to have pulled its plans to open a ‘new concept’.
San Carlo put signs up on the former Caffe Nero coffee shop opposite Birmingham Cathedral and Pigeon Park back in 2023.
The bright yellow signage told customers that San Carlo – a chain with restaurants on Temple Street and in Selfridges – would be taking over the empty unit on the corner of Temple Street West and Waterloo Street.
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Now a fresh planning application has been submitted to Birmingham City Council showing that coffee shop Blank Street intended on taking over the empty venue.
Caffe Nero closed back in spring 2022 and the unit has sat empty ever since.
There are already two branches of Blank Street in Birmingham city centre, including at the Bullring and on New Street.
The American chain has been a popular addition to the city with both drawing queues since they opened last year.
San Carlo was approached multiple times over the past two years by a number of BirminghamLive journalists regarding plans but all attempts to find out more information on the ‘concept’ were ignored.
If planning permission is granted, Blank Street will sit opposite the last remaining large green space in the city centre and beside venues including Damascena and the Old Joint Stock.
Meanwhile, another new restaurant is gearing up for its opening facing Birmingham Cathedral.
The 100-seater Blacklock traditional chop house will open this autumn in St Philip’s House.
BirminghamLive has attempted to contact Blank Street for more information on a new city centre launch.
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