Wally's deli, a landmark independent retailer in Cardiff's Royal Arcade, has been put up for sale as owner Steven Salamon approaches retirement.
Mr Salamon told WalesOnline that as he nears retirement he needs to explore his options for the business, but stressed that nothing is set in stone at the moment.
"As I approach retirement, I need to explore my options for the business," he said. "One option is to sell the business and I have therefore instructed Christie & Co to market the business. Other options also remain available to me as I consider my future plans, and I would like to make it clear that no definitive decisions have been made."
A beloved Cardiff institution
The shop has been nestled inside the Victorian arcade for decades and has thrived, becoming a leading inspiration for independent retail within the capital for as long as many residents and visitors can remember.
Wally's has been attracting customers for over 80 years across three generations of the same family ownership. Inside, the shelves are packed with extensive ranges of premium international foods, fine wines, beers and spirits, plus an impressive selection of artisan produce, food and drink gift baskets and collections that are particularly popular at Christmas.
The premises also include a popular café on the first floor called Kaffeehaus, and the business offers online shopping.
History and family legacy
The deli began in 1947 by Ignatz (also known as Ivor) Salamon, originally from Poland, after he returned from serving in the army. Ivor had owned a family store in Rohrbach an der Teich, Austria during the 1930s and used this experience to set up his Cardiff store, which was then called Bridge Street Stores Continental Delicatessen and located on a Bridge Street site where John Lewis now stands.
Son Walter, also known as Wally, began the next phase of the business when Ivor passed away in 1963, calling it Continental Wally's Delicatessen. His decision to move the store into Royal Arcade in 1981, naming it Wally's Delicatessen, is considered the moment when the business truly became a landmark retail destination in Cardiff.
Sale process and next steps
The business is currently owned and run by Steven, who came into the business in 1993 at the age of 30 and worked alongside his father until Wally died in 2008.
The Royal Arcade shop started as a single unit, but in 2008 it grew with the acquisition of the unit next door, which allowed the shop to expand and created space for the Kaffeehaus café in 2011.
It is now on the market with offers invited by selling agent Christie & Co, Retail, who describe the business as being situated in a prominent location within the arcade with a strong and loyal customer base. The shop and café will operate as normal as the selling process progresses and a new owner takes over.
