Mayo business Brú-ing up a reputation for ‘door-step’ sandwiches
By Tom Gillespie
SINCE opening Brú - a coffee-sandwich shop - on Main Street, Castlebar, proprietor Pearce Parkinson has built up a fine reputation for value for money ‘door-step’ sandwiches.
The Donegal native ended up in Castlebar after meeting his partner Lycia Heneghan, in Galway, who is from the Oaks in Castlebar.
Pearce explained: "I met her in Galway and ended up back in Castlebar with her. I had been working in Westport and Castlebar managing coffee shops and I decided to go out on my own. It was always in the blood.
“My mother and father opened up their first coffee shop in Moville, Inishowen, Co. Donegal, when I was eight or nine years. We started off young in there washing pots, making sandwiches and coffees. Then they opened up their second place, the Coffee Train, on the Strand Road in Derry City, when I was 13 or 14.
“I was working there up until I was 17 when I went off to college. It was every day, seven days a week during the summer and every weekend.
“They sold the business about a year-and-a-half ago. When they sold it I had it in my head that I wanted to go out on my own.
“So Brú is based on a similar concept as theirs. My sandwiches are based on the menu they had there. It worked for them for so many years. They got a great name in Derry City for a big sandwich and I am trying to build that reputation here as well.”
Pearce added: “We have got a great reception since we opened in August. Main Street has been very welcoming and the local businesses here have really backed me and they were delighted to see something new opening up.
“We specialise in sambos. We are a coffee-sandwich shop. I don’t do anything too crazy. We don’t do breakfast. We keep it simple - a cup of coffee and a great sandwich.
“We have five sandwiches - cheesy chicken, our best seller, ham and cheese with apple chutney, veggie, tuna and the healthy option the chicken avocado (pictured below).
“The bread is the real winner for the sandwiches. We get the bread freshly baked in the Storehouse Bakery from Staunton’s Day Break just five doors up.
“The bakers, Gerry and Henry, start early every morning and bake it fresh. We use Brendan Byrne for all our meats. We keep it as local as possible. We pride ourselves on providing a nice big sandwich with lots of filling. We call them door-stop sandwiches. We try to give people good value.
“We have built up a great reputation for take away lunches. Workers are coming down every day. There is usually a queue here every day for sandwiches at lunch time.
“We are open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can pre-order your lunch and we swill have it ready for you for collection and orders can be rung in to (094) 9260005. We also do catering platters which are good value at €45 and we are getting very busy with that too.”
He continued: “People like the new look of the business, and the local businesses here have been very supportive.
“They were very happy to see a new café open on Main Street. They said it was needed, and that it would bring more shoppers onto Main Street.
“I would like to see the business grow and develop, now that we have a good steady trade. Customers feel that they are getting value for money and leave happy.”
* Do you have a story to tell about your business? If so, Tom Gillespie would be delighted to hear from you. Get in touch at (087) 9680780 or gillespietom49@gmail.com.