Smolenski's has reopened on College Road in Crosby, 25 years after the business first opened its doors. The venue, run by the Routledge family, originally opened in 2001 thanks to grandad Keith, who has now stepped back and allowed his 19-year-old granddaughter Ella to take control.
Ella, who lives in the coastal town, told the ECHO: “It’s such a wonderful opportunity to be given at such a young age, and I’m so grateful to be such a big part of it. It’s amazing to think my family have all done this together. Every single one of us has had an impact, and that’s what has made Smolenski’s what it is. It’s wonderful to see everything come together.”
Fresh menu and design
Inside the quaint shop, customers can choose from freshly made focaccia sandwiches, bagels, breads and other deli favourites. A selection of matchas and coffees is also on offer.
The Edge Hill University student added: “I’m so proud. All my friends have been coming in and saying how much they love the design. The feature wall is my favourite part of the whole shop, along with the black-and-white tiled floor. When I first started, it was just a little sketch, so seeing everything in place and ready to go, and knowing that people are loving it, is incredible.”
Family connection
Next door to Smolenski's is Azul Monkey, the establishment run by Ella's parents, Marcus and Kellie. They opened it five years ago, and it has earned TripAdvisor's stamp of approval each year.
The couple's connection to the premises goes back around 25 years, when they visited the building when it was home to the original Smolenski's, where they went on their first date. On that date, they talked about opening their own coffee shop one day. Marcus, 54, told the ECHO: “When we visited Rome, we saw focaccia shops everywhere. We loved the concept and thought it would be great to bring something similar to Crosby. It was such a cool idea, and we wanted to introduce something a little different to the area.”
Reinventing a classic
Marcus added: “What we’ve done is reinvent Smolenski’s. The original business was very much like Azul Monkey is today, focusing on breakfast, brunch, coffee and similar offerings. We wanted to put a new spin on it, reinvent it and bring it back.”
Ella describes the concept as “a modern deli with a fresh style, rather than a traditional deli”, adding that the food is Italian while the design has more of a French influence. One concept the family said has been well-received is the grab-and-go section.
She added: “I’ve been working in Azul Monkey for a long time, where I’ve learnt a lot. When they talked about reopening Smolenski’s, they wanted to bring a younger touch to the business, and I knew it was right up my street. I love France, and Paris is one of my favourite places. I love the chic design, particularly the black-and-white colour scheme, and I thought bringing that aesthetic into Smolenski’s would make it different. It's something you don’t really see here very often.”
Community reaction
The original business was established when coffee shops were far less common than they are today. Marcus hopes the revived version will strike a balance between nostalgia and modern appeal.
He added: “The reaction has been fantastic. We’ve been working on it since June, and people walking and driving past have been really excited that we’re bringing something different to the area again. What’s been particularly amazing is how many people remember the original Smolenski’s. All these years later, local people have been coming in and saying, ‘We remember Smolenski’s’. We didn’t expect quite so many people to remember it, but they really do. Before we opened, there was a real buzz locally about the shop returning. We had lots of people stopping us in the street asking when we are opening.”
