A family-run Abergavenny coffee shop, that has been described as ‘a credit to the community’ marked their first anniversary with a special celebration last week.

Rosie and Izzy’s Coffee Shop on Cibi Walk opened for trading on August 18 2020 and celebrated their milestone anniversary on Wednesday August 18 with coffees, cakes and many other treats for visitors. The shop is owned by Melanie Rich, with Melanie’s daughter Millie working as Manager, whilst daughter Mikaela and son Mason also work at the shop. Situated in the Cibi Walk precinct of town, Rosie and Izzy’s not only provides visitors with quality coffee and cakes but a nice friendly environment where staff often take time out to sit down, speak to customers and get to know them on a more personal level. Speaking to the Chronicle, coffee shop Manager Millie said: “Our slogan is ‘Hello stranger, Goodbye friend’ and that is something we are really passionate about, forging relationships with our customers and providing a welcoming environment for all. “It has been a very difficult year for everyone, and some of our customers have lost family members in the last year and they come here as a place of solace, so it lovely to be able to provide some comfort to these people.” Having previously worked on Cibi Walk, both Millie and Mum Melanie had previous catering experience and it was whilst working there that Melanie had the idea of opening the shop. “Cibi Walk is such a special place, and through working here you quickly realise just what a great atmosphere there is and I just thought that the location would be ideal for a coffee shop and wanted to give the people of Abergavenny somewhere nice to enjoy a coffee”, said Rosie and Izzy’s owner Melanie. With help from Melanie’s mum who supported the venture, Rosie and Izzy’s officially opened on August 18 2020, with the shop being named after the family’s two beloved Yorkshire Terrier dogs. The business was created by Melanie and Millie, with Melanie making most of the seasonal displays that people come from afar to visit. Displays at the shop are often seasonal with previous displays including pumpkins, snowmen and now during the summer teddy bear picnics. Millie has also previously worked as a designer and has utilised those skills in creating the shop’s logo, menu, graphics and all social media accounts. The shop has a thriving social media page where people can see updates on their amazing new specials, what’s in the counter and other things including opening times. Not surprisingly the shop is dog-friendly with many regulars bringing their pets along, who are often given treats by members of staff. Opening a business during a worldwide pandemic however was not without its difficulties with the business having to cope with new regulations and restrictions on numbers as well as several lockdowns, all of which caused great stress for Melanie. Speaking about the last year, she said: “It has been a very challenging year to open a new business. In the early days it was very difficult and even though I was determined to give it a go, there were times when I thought we would need to close down permanently. “Thankfully we received a grant from Monmouthshire County Council who were very generous in their support and our family friends also helped us working over the Christmas period.” Having come through those difficult periods, the business is now back and thriving with customers flocking back in such numbers during the summer that Melanie has had to employ four new members of staff. London-born Melanie – who now lives in Llanellen – added: “The support we have received in recent months has been amazing, we are always grateful for the outstanding and generous support we receive from our wonderful customers. “At times Cibi Walk can seem like a forgotten part of town but it is home to a beautiful community and we are blessed to serve it, which is why we decided to celebrate our anniversary to give the community something nice to focus on.” The anniversary celebrations were enjoyed by many visitors as the shop proves to be increasingly popular, with some shop regulars even travelling from as far as Newport to enjoy the expert service provided. Speaking to the Chronicle, one regular visitor said: “I often come here for a sit down and chat, and find the service provided by Melanie, Millie and all the other staff second to none, they are a real credit to the community. “In such a difficult time they have really helped make a difference in people’s lives, and it just goes to show that even in the hardest of times you can still build wonderful things.”On the anniversary they actually had two of their regular customers volunteer to work for the day so the owner could have a day to celebrate and have a break!