Reinvention: How Rhiwbina village became a shopping destination in Cardiff
Jul
Rhiwbina’s beating heart is its popular shopping experience. But it hasn’t always been easy going for the local businesses
The story of Rhiwbina as a historical village is well-charted and widely-known. But its story in more recent times has been perhaps less documented.
These days, Rhiwbina is considered one of the finest areas to shop in Cardiff. Its flourishing clutch of independent businesses have been punching above their weight for many years. But for the people behind this success, it hasn’t always been plain sailing.
The main shopping area has seen a variety of different establishments over the years, some of them fleeting, some of them still household names in the area. Back in the previous golden period, Gooch’s was one popular name, a hardware store that thrived during the 1950s and 60s, on the end of Beulah Road, where the dry cleaners now stand.
Jones the Chemist was next door. Customers claim that whatever ailment they went there with, they’d be handed either a bottle of white or bottle of red medicine to make them better. Mr Jones was known to put himself out for his customers, often turning up at people’s homes with things that they needed. Meanwhile, Lacey’s was a gentleman’s outfitters where you could get a pair of leather gloves or a sensible tie. They also had outlets at the Caerphilly crossroads, on Thornhill Road, and later on Heol-y-Deri.
During the 1980s, where Snails Deli now is, there used to be a butcher, Peter Shields. He was world-famous for his faggots. People would come from all over Cardiff to buy them. The aroma of the faggots cooking would often drift down the street and over the village.
Next door, on the end, where Flower Lodge now stands, there was Macs, who sold fruit, vegetables and fresh fish. There was also a Post Office on the other side of Peter Shields.
Up onto Heol-y-Deri itself, you’d find Lawrences, which sold ladies gowns. During the 1980s, Courtney Morgan sold and repaired electrical appliances. They were situated where Parsons now is. Gills Travel, run by Bob Gill and his son, sat on the end of the row of shops, which is now occupied by a charity shop. The cabin on Pantbach Road was a delightful little place if you were a child or a smoker – rows of jars filled with sweets and more sweets. Prior to this, it was a shoe-repairer during the 1960s.
But during the 1980s and 1990s, Rhiwbina, like many small communities across the UK, faced significant economic and social challenges. As consumer habits shifted and large supermarkets and retail chains expanded into nearby towns, independent businesses in Rhiwbina began to struggle. The Monico cinema was one of the biggest victims of this modernisation as people headed out of the village to out-of-town cinema complexes.
Many residents were also lured away by the convenience and competitive pricing of bigger retails stores, leading to a decline in foot traffic and sales in the village.
One of those who has seen the comings and the goings since the 1990s has been Juboraj owner, Ana Miah. He arrived in the village in the 1980s, opening the now much-loved Juboraj in 1989.
“The last three decades have been a very challenging and difficult time for the business community in Rhiwbina village,” says Juboraj owner Ana.
“We have seen many businesses come and go on a regular basis. Back when we opened the Juboraj, the village was dominated by banks, estate agents, and solicitors offices. There wasn’t much in the way of retail or hospitality businesses for the locals to choose from. If people wanted to have a coffee and a chat, they would have to go to neighbouring areas like Whitchurch or Birchgrove. Parking was, and still is, an issue that the village businesses have always suffered from. As a result, there wasn’t much reason for people to visit Rhiwbina for pleasure.”
Yet despite this, a few businesses have stood the test of time and soldiered through very difficult trading conditions and kept the village on the map.
“You’ve got the likes of The Flower Lodge, Derek Freye, Juboraj, Victoria Fearn Gallery, Calon Rhiwbeina, and The Gateway of India to name a few,” says Ana.
It was the work of community groups during these times that helped shape the village into what we know and love today.
“During the mid nineties, the Rhiwbina Festival Committee did great work to promote the village in a positive light and bring the whole community spirit alive in the village. They helped establish Rhiwbina as a place in Cardiff to visit,” notes Ana.
“Now renamed the Village Events Committee, they along with the Rhiwbina Eco Team do a fantastic job in keeping the reputation of Rhiwbina as a garden village intact.”
The Juboraj has continued to support these bodies by providing them with facilities to hold regular meetings in their function room completely free of charge over the last twenty years; the Juboraj has also raised funds for them to carry out their vital work to enhance the village.
“Ultimately, we all get to benefit from their work. The Summer Festival, for example, is a very special occasion for the whole village, when all the businesses get involved to make the summer months a very joyous occasion.
“A special mention has to go to Simon Edwards and his team at Edwards Estates Agents who have been supporting the festival with their generous sponsorship and more recently, Northwood Cardiff.”
In many ways, Rhiwbina has reinvented itself as a place of artisan boutiques – a destination in itself, that draws in shoppers from outside the village.
“Now we have a very vibrant village with lots of bustling businesses like Snails, Secret Shed, Mesen, Parsons, Coffi Lab, Rhiwbina Tap, Wine Republic, and newest of all – Pettigrews Bakery – to cater for the hospitality sector.
“There are also the local favourites – Serenade, Signor Barbers, Coco Hair and Beauty, Michelle Marshall Salon, and Tricia the pharmacist, from formerly Lloyd’s Chemist, who has been serving our community for well over 20 years.
“I know the residents of Rhiwbina and its outlying areas are also grateful for their free copies of Rhiwbina Living, which has been delivered house-to-house since 2007. The magazines have given a chance for those local businesses to showcase what they do so well.
“We are now very fortunate and excited to say that future of our village is looking good,” adds Ana.
He’s also keen to put to bed a rumour that has been circulating around the village recently:
“There has been talk circulating that the Juboraj is closing or has been sold. I’d like to reassure residents that we are not selling up or closing but still going strong after 36 years of trading; we look forward to many more years of service to our loyal followers!” he laughs.
The residents of Rhiwbina can look forward to many more decades of prosperous trading for all our businesses while we remember the names like Juboraj who kept the village spirits alive during the difficult years.
This feature is sponsored by Juboraj Cardiff
