New Latin-American themed coffee lounge opens in Hagley Street, Halesowen

Salao de Cafe, on Hagley Street opened yesterday (Tuesday December 21) in the former Shelter charity shop unit.

The coffee shop is run by Sherry Davies. It's name is cafe in Portuguese.

Sherry and her husband Andy run micropub The Crafty Pint on Wassell Road, Halesowen, and decided to branch out into the coffee business after struggling to find a coffee shop they liked in the town.

Sherry, aged 54, said: " I popped into the new Ginger Tree shop that was formally the Hagley Street Baristas coffee shop in the Cornbow.

"To my surprise Amrit the barista of the former coffee shop was in there.

"She told me Halesowen needed another coffee shop like the one we lost, I agreed.

"The seed was sown.

"I went home and said to Andy, how do feel about opening a coffee shop in Halesowen?"

Things moved quickly from there and Sherry found the former Shelter unit was available.

She sold her car to raise money and has upcycled furniture, spending months stripping, sanding and painting and re upholstering chairs and has completely transformed the shop.

She said: "It was hard work and we were both exhausted, but it all came together."

Amrit is now working in the coffee shop as is another former barista from Hagley Street Baristas.

Sherry said the reaction had been great.

She said: "Everybody really likes it and the name is a talking point!"

Food including coffee, cakes and sandwiches is served with Sherry planning to expand the menu in the future.

Coffee is supplied by Cole and Mac, a local roaster, based in Kingswinford.

The coffee shop, which has a Facebook page, is open Monday to Saturday from 9am till 5pm.