Ryan Pratt of Cooke & Arkwright’s Retail & Leisure team said, “We are very pleased to have been able to assist such a respected establishment as Wally’s in securing the premises for a further term, particularly in the current difficult circumstances for retail and leisure operators.
“The preference was to stay in their current location, which is well known to regular customers and is one of Cardiff’s premium Victorian shopping arcades, so this is an excellent outcome. It’s also good news that such a long-standing Cardiff retailer has signalled its confidence in the locality for the future.”
Steven Salamon, the owner of Wally’s and son of its founder, Wally Salamon, said, “We are pleased to be able to commit once again to our premises in Royal Arcade. During lockdown we had to close at first due to the difficulty in securing supplies and to ensure the safety of our staff. Since reopening at the beginning of June we have steadily increased our business week by week and at the same time dealt with a surge in online orders. We are confident that our business will gradually return to pre-covid levels within the next 12 months.”
Wally’s doubled its floor space in Royal Arcade in 2009 when Cooke & Arkwright acquired the lease on adjoining premises of 2,170 sq ft, and Wally’s Kaffeehaus, a Viennese style coffee house opened on the first floor in 2011.
The deli now offers a range of over 3,000 product lines from around the world, including a three metre olive bar, a wide selection of speciality cheeses, charcuterie, artisan breads, chocolates, teas, coffees, oils and beverages, and Italian Gelato, a healthy ice cream alternative made with milk rather than cream. Wally’s also has a Liquor Store in nearby Castle Arcade.