News: Pokémon-themed business trading up into long-vacant Rotherham unit
Plans have been approved that will enable the expansion of a Pokémon-themed shop and café in Rotherham town centre, reports Visit Rotherham.
Moving across town from the Imperial Buildings and transforming a vacant unit in The Old Town Hall in 2023, enterprising Lee Kucia has created a haven for Pokémon fans, offering cards, booster boxes, toys and graded cards. The theme continues into a Coffee House serving barista coffee, hot drinks, cake and sandwiches that also offers space for trading and playing.
Under the name, PokiLee, Lee has amassed over 11,000 subscribers on YouTube who catch him opening packs, interacting with customers and various other live streams.
Having also added a family-friendly arcade and renamed as PokiLee's CardCade, a new set of plans were submitted for a change of use at another retail unit in Rotherham town centre - a bigger building which will allow both businesses to operate cohesively from one location.
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Rothbiz reported in January on plans for 14 Howard Street, a former Argos store. The change of use application has now been approved.
Planners at Rotherham Council said: "Although the scheme introduces elements that move slightly away from traditional retail, such as café and gaming arcade, it is unlikely to result in any harmful impact on the Primary Shopping Frontage", it would "not detract from the existing appearance or character of the frontage and would instead make a positive contribution to Howard Street by reinstating an active and engaging street presence."
A post on social media from Pokilee's Cardcade said that: "Everything you love is coming together under one roof. Bigger and Better! We can’t wait for you to see it!"
The update added that the last day in the current Old Town Hall shop would be Saturday May 2 with a closure planned for around two weeks to get everything ready for the new space.
Pokilee's CardCade website
Images: Rees Denton / Pokilee's CardCade / Facebook
Moving across town from the Imperial Buildings and transforming a vacant unit in The Old Town Hall in 2023, enterprising Lee Kucia has created a haven for Pokémon fans, offering cards, booster boxes, toys and graded cards. The theme continues into a Coffee House serving barista coffee, hot drinks, cake and sandwiches that also offers space for trading and playing.
Under the name, PokiLee, Lee has amassed over 11,000 subscribers on YouTube who catch him opening packs, interacting with customers and various other live streams.
Having also added a family-friendly arcade and renamed as PokiLee's CardCade, a new set of plans were submitted for a change of use at another retail unit in Rotherham town centre - a bigger building which will allow both businesses to operate cohesively from one location.
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Rothbiz reported in January on plans for 14 Howard Street, a former Argos store. The change of use application has now been approved.
Planners at Rotherham Council said: "Although the scheme introduces elements that move slightly away from traditional retail, such as café and gaming arcade, it is unlikely to result in any harmful impact on the Primary Shopping Frontage", it would "not detract from the existing appearance or character of the frontage and would instead make a positive contribution to Howard Street by reinstating an active and engaging street presence."
A post on social media from Pokilee's Cardcade said that: "Everything you love is coming together under one roof. Bigger and Better! We can’t wait for you to see it!"
The update added that the last day in the current Old Town Hall shop would be Saturday May 2 with a closure planned for around two weeks to get everything ready for the new space.
Pokilee's CardCade website
Images: Rees Denton / Pokilee's CardCade / Facebook
7 comments:
Fantastic news, the current premises are bursting at the seams with people. Hands down the busiest shop in the town centre. My kids love it down there. It's a shop you would expect to find in a busy city like Manchester or Leeds. We never come into the centre but have been recently because of this shop
Suppose it will be a draw for the many Neets in Rotherham Aka Young lazy 2hats!
You patronising person
Clown
What an idiot
His comments are ironic given what a lazy writer he is.
It's actually a big draw for families. Loads of parents with their kids, excited at what they have in store, the arcade and the fantastic café. We have been three times now and it's been full every time. When I last went there were some supporters from Stevenage in there who had come up to watch their team play Rotherham United and seen this shop and decided to come into town, that's brought custom into the centre. This is exactly what the town has been lacking for years
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