The building is set to get a new lease of life
Childwall Fiveways
People driving through the Childwall Fiveways might have noticed a change this week. Signs promoting a new business inside the former Florida Property Corner, which had been located on the well-known Liverpool roundabout for a number of years, were spotted in the window of the building this week as it prepares for a new lease of life.
A new coffee shop called Arbor and Ivy, which is not connected to the property company, is set to open its doors in the building before Christmas. Stephany Burns and Lucas O’Hare are behind the new coffee shop and spoke to the ECHO about their plans for the recognisable location.
Stephany, who is from Roby, said: “We’re trying to bring the outdoors in. So we’re trying to create something like a peaceful secret garden where people can come in from the busy road and completely get lost in a garden of love, hope, connection, bringing the community together.
“Like, when you walk a mountain and you’re on the outdoors, it frees you, doesn’t it? But why not have a place in a busy community that gives you that same feeling?
Arbor and Ivy is opening inside the former Florida Property Corner at Childwall Fiveways(Image: Arbor and Ivy)
“You can come in and leave all of your troubles at the door and just get lost in the beauty of the outdoors but indoors. We’re bringing a matcha bar, so it’s bringing the wellness of Japanese culture here.
“We want Liverpool to really experience what matcha should taste like. Matcha in its ceremonial grade, not just put on the tin ceremonial grade. We get our matcha from the source. There’s nothing hidden. It’s for wellness.
“And matcha should not taste like grass. It should taste sweet. A sense of coconut, it’s smooth. And it takes you away. It takes you on a journey. It was made for the digestive system, to calm the nervous system. It was made for peace and serenity, really. And, you know, not just that. And I think everyone gets lost in what matcha should actually be.”
The business partners didn’t know each other before creating Arbor and Ivy. It was a mutual friend, who would become a silent investor, who brought them together, believing they have what it takes to “make this happen” together.
Arbor and Ivy is opening inside the former Florida Property Corner at Childwall Fiveways(Image: Arbor and Ivy)
Lucas, from Toxteth, said: “She knew us both and we didn’t know each other. So it brought us together thinking that we both had what it took together to make this happen.
“So we’ve really built a relationship from the start and we’re now the dream team because we’ll now work alongside each other day in, day out.”
He added: “We’ve had people come in just because they live so local, popping their heads and just mentioning it. And we’ve actually had a really nice warm welcome from a bunch of the other people around the five ways, who messaged us on Instagram saying welcome to the community.
“And everyone’s taking a big notice off just a little sign that we put up in the window. Everyone’s gorgeous.”
More information on Arbor and Ivy can be found on its Instagram page.