The owner of a Lichfield cafe says her business is at risk after scaffolding was put up on a neighbouring building.
Work is taking place to repair the fascia on the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum.
But Sue Pettitt, owner of Boomers on Breadmarket Street, says the erection of scaffolding has blocked her outlet which has seen trade drop.
And she says the work could now force her to close permanently.
“Like other cafes we struggled through Covid, and by hell and high water I managed to survive.
“Now summer is here it was time to recoup some losses and make some money rather than break even or make a loss.
“But the scaffolding then went up and has covered up my business and killed me in just a matter of weeks.
“We lost £3,000 in the first four weeks the scaffolding was up – that was my buffer and all I had.”
“I get that the museum is a very important place and needs repairs, but the repairs are going to put me out of business.
Sue Pettitt, Boomers
The museum is operated by Lichfield City Council, but Sue says efforts to find a resolution to the challenges posed to her own business have fallen on deaf ears.
“We were informed about the scaffolding going up the day before it happened – there was no warning or impact assessment.
“How can I be expected to lose my business? I refuse to lose everything just because the museum needs fascia work doing.
“They knew this work needed to happen in 2019, so why wait until now? A worker erecting the scaffolding said to me on the first day it was going up that it would kill my business – and he was right.
“I asked if the losses could be replaced so I can stay open and continue to trade, but they said no.
“Four months ago I was given a grant for improvements to make it more Covid friendly. I designed a huge mural, we replaced all the tables and ripped out cupboards to make it less cluttered – we were used as a success story, but now we are being put out of business.
“Nobody is helping me and nobody seems to care.”
Sue Pettitt, Boomers
“Unidentified structural issues”
A Lichfield City Council spokesperson said the work had initially been planned to take eight weeks between spring and autumn due to the lime plaster used.
But when the work began, “unidentified structural issues” were discovered that meant further structural works were needed that delayed the initial completion date..
“Following receipt of professional advice, work is now progressing quickly to rectify these issues and to preserve this nationally important Grade 1 listed building.
“The contractor, Lichfield City Council representatives and professional advisors initially met with Boomers representatives to listen to their concerns some weeks ago.
“As a result, directional signage has been procured and prominently displayed to inform the public the café is open for business, and camouflage netting has been used to disguise the scaffolding next to their premises.
“Progress updates are being provided at regular intervals, and contractors have made every reasonable effort to minimise inconvenience and reduce the impact of the works on neighbouring businesses.
“This does, however, have to be balanced against any potential delays that would result in the scaffolding being present for longer than is absolutely necessary.
“The council has every sympathy with nearby businesses and is working with specialist advisers and contractors to ensure the required work to protect this building, its visitors and passing pedestrians, is completed as soon as possible.”
Lichfield City Council spokesperson
What a lovely, caring, sympathetic council LDC is. I can’t believe the business had one 24 hours notice of the scaffolding going up?!!???
What the hell is going on in LDC?!
This made me chuckle to be honest,somebody opens a business adjoining a grade1 listed building did they never think about historic buildings needing repairs?
Access to the cafe looks ok on the photo people can still come in and out so where is the problem,
I wonder if your building being adjoined might need serious repairs also and would you worry about your neighbours businesses if you had to have scaffolding up. We have to look after our historical sights and keep our heritage intact.
The article explains the council has done there duty in respect of notice given albeit 1 day. And people can still pop into your cafe and marvel at the skill involved in renovating such a historical building on there way out. Enough said
Lichfield City Council Spokesperson sounds like they don’t care.
There should have been an impact assessment done before the work started which took in to account affect on surrounding businesses. Communication with Boomers should have happened before work started not “some weeks ago” from now. Funding of the work should factor in compensation for situations like this. If LDC gives this cafe money to make up for its losses than I’m sure some will object to public money being used to bail out a privately owned business. But it’s not acceptable that the cafe goes out of business because of work being done on the museum and LDC need to sort this out.
I suppose DJ that in your uncaring world a business next to a road should expect that to be dug up and resurfaced every so often and not complain about disturbances. Would also help your argument if you learned how to spell.
D j- Obviously there’s a problem if the takings are down as much as reported. Look at the photo at the top of the article. It shows how the age has become almost invisible from Market Square. That’ll probably be part of the problem. Remember that sign, which is poor substitute for being able to see the cafe properly, was only provided long after the scaffolding went up. To effectively blame the owner for opening a cafe in that location and to think this situation merits a chuckle at the cafe owner’s expense is idiotic and maliciously heartless. Are you the LDC spokesperson D j?
Raise any concerns with the local councillors who represent this area. This is exactly the sort of issue they are here to deal with.
Are they using the same contractors that are dragging out the gas main replacement along Ryknild Street?
They should have notified the café sooner, that really is poor.
But if Business A has scaffolding outside their own premises it doesn’t need to pay Business B next door compensation for loss of trade. Where would it stop? Surely Business C a couple of doors down would be entitled to a few quid, and perhaps Business D, too. If that was in place nobody would ever do any work as the costs would be staggering.
I walk through the city that way regularly with my grandchildren and do not like the idea of a historic building with unresolved ‘structural issues’ in the city centre, especially one that is a visitor attraction. Imagine the backlash if nothing was done and bits of the building were falling off, or if there was a structural collapse, the consequences could be dire.
Perhaps if everyone reading the article visits Boomers over the next few weeks they will not be in such a desperate position.
I feel sorry for the owners of the cafe but I’m not sure it’s all to do with the work. The thing that puts me off is the constant 60’s music that blares out onto the street which is not to my taste ( nor many others it seems), and isn’t in-keeping with the historic feel of the immediate area.
Boomers is a lovely place to eat and I feel really sad to hear this.
I think the council should help out the owner financially as they have wrecked her business.
Play fair LDC.
No George I am not a spokes person for the ldc as you can tell by my spelling,,, (rob)
I am not being sympathetic or heartless at all, I can see both sides of this situation and the strain on us tax payers purse, we all have our own situations in life but the tax payer should not front the cost.
I’m really surprised at people moaning about LDC not caring. They haven’t cared for anything but themselves in decades. I feel so sorry for this business. What should be happening is LDC providing a grant and full support for this business. That’s the moral thing to do. They’ll do nothing to support this business, but what is guaranteed is how much time and money they put into chasing the owners for unpaid rates when they go out of business. So disappointing.
Lichfield City Council is not LDC. LDC is LICHFIELD DISTRICT COUNCIL. It’s another organisation with different responsibilities.
Lichfield City Council is the Council that operate the museum and responsible for the building. LCC. Not LDC. It’s not hard, is it?
If the owner of Boomers is reading this, please can you stop playing music out on to the street.
I’ve never been in this place but I’ve always thought the signage to be out of keeping with the location. I’m pretty sure some councils wouldn’t allow something so at odds with the historic feel of the other buildings nearby. Obviously I hope the owner can make a success of her business though.
Dont they think some people haven’t got the money to eat and drink out all the time, that’s why takings are down also some people thay use it are away on holiday or looking after children.
Lichfield City council should be ashamed of themselves for poor communication, poor delivery and 100% lack of support
To tell businesses literally as they are putting the scaffolding up is Inexcusable and the lack of coverage for those sat outside is ridiculous – you sit outside any of the two cafes and end up with a powder coating on you food.
Saying all of this I’m not surprised as this is the same council who has killed off the market with poor management, lack of support for traders and no required management skill or experience – however let’s just make sure their pancake race and sheriff horse thingy is still going ahead – numb nuts the lot of them!
As I said at the start bad management all round by the management team at LCC
I think the state of the economic climate in this country at the Moment carnt be helping either. People just haven’t got any spare cash to be drinking and eating out. It’s not cheap compaired to eating at home. With everything rising in price so much and the threat of extortionate energy bills people seem afraid to spend money at the moment. I’ve notice how empty Tesco, Morrisons and Waitrose car parks are and how little foot fall these places are getting at present. It carnt be good either having extensive works on the property next door to your place of work. It could be many issues as to why takings have gone down. I fear though that people just haven’t got the spare funds to eat out alot now like they used to and having the scaffolding then go up has just tipped things over the edge for this business owner.
Sad to read that this Business is suffering, perhaps it should be considered that we are knee deep in Cafe/Coffee outlets in Lichfield. I have counted at least 12.. Patrons will sort out the Cheapest in the present economic climate.
Never the less. The whole of this area is a Mess. The Market has depleted too.
Agree with the comments re music playing out on to the street and the ugly signage. What’s happened certainly hasnt done the business any favours but take the music away and improve the outside appearance and it would be more inviting.
Though I have sympathy for the struggling business and agree LDC have made some serious mistakes that have hurt the cafe. Ive used this cafe myself and I find its cramped and rather expensive. Yet I don’t believe the works happening to the museum are to blame solely, as there is a least 5 other cafes are left and right to this one. So that is the main issue for you struggling.
Boomers is a lovley place fantastic food and brilliant customer service as for playing 60s music that is the whole point of the cafe I personally find it better than the usual awful music that blasts out in other eating places
Boomers is a lovely independent cafe, it’s different to many of the ordinary cafes the city seems to think we need.
The staff go out of their way to be friendly & make tasty food themed to the 40’s & 60’s as much as they possibly can.
No ‘run of the Mill’ Wraps & Panini’s found there!
They really should have been given more notice about the work that would be starting next door.
It’s very sad if the business fails.
The problem with the music is that they have an external speaker above the entrance door which blasts music into the street. Just get rid of it and keep the music inside.
I love Boomers – the food is varied and delicious, the staff are friendly and helpful and I really like the decor and music. I will continue to patronise this business whether or not there is scaffolding next door.
Food is brilliant and excellent service, a lot better menu than the normal regular food places and I love the music and it ain’t loud
Everyone seem to moan about the music. “I don’t like it. It’s not to my taste”. For the love of god…I can hear music coming out of Faro Lounge or Mckenzies and other business when I walk past and it doesn’t bother me. How about screaming man selling veg on the market? He is trying to make money isnt he. If not music outside of Boomers then I probably wouldn’t even have spotted the entrance. Its a fantastic idea to promote yourself on high street. And what a surprise it was when I walked in and had breakfast there! Beautiful food! Let others run their business the best they can and if you don’t want to be their customer then don’t be. Simple.
LDC don’t have a good track record where anything to do with building and construction is concerned.
All I can say is go in and try the food. All traditional home made food just like your mom or Nan make/made and considering the the food is all made from scratch, to say it’s expensive is a joke. Quality food comes at a price, if you want a budget meal I believe spoons will do a breakfast for less than £5. LCC won’t be helping Boomers through this but the community can so I urge you to treat yourself to some amazing food in the 40’s or 60’s rooms and marvel at the nostalgia whilst devouring some amazing grub.
If the buisness has lost money since the scaffold was erected which im sure it has ,then something should be done to compensate the owners of the cafe ,ive been to Boomers a number of times and been greeted with great food and and a warm and friendly welcome ..and as for the music playing as you walk past I think its nice to hear personally,,
But not to everyones liking it seems ,oh well .. ive no doubt youve served a few of those …I’m a tradesman ,sounds like the sort that don’t offer you a cuppa all day ……hope you manage to keep your buisness 🤞