The project which was made possible thanks to Wrexham Council and a grant from the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns programme, supported one of Wrexham’s oldest and best-loved cafés to complete a major refurbishment project, helping to protect an important piece of the city’s heritage while supporting future growth.
Marrubi’s, located on Bank Street, is the oldest café in Wrexham, with the business first established in 1896. Originally located on York Street, it later moved to Abbot Street in 1910, before relocating to Bank Street in 1918, where it has remained an important part of the City Centre ever since.
Transforming Towns is a Welsh Government programme providing over £100m to town centre regeneration in Wales. Town and City Centres are an essential and personal part of Welsh heritage and community, and the Transforming Towns programme is dedicated to serving and connecting the people who live, work, learn and spend leisure time in them.
Marubbi’s Café has now completed a programme of external and internal refurbishment works designed to preserve the building’s traditional character while addressing essential maintenance needs.
The café has been run by the same family for generations, with current owner Hari Gould becoming the fifth generation to take on the business in 2022.
The work included repairs and partial replacement of cast-iron guttering, repainting and sealing external brickwork, replacement of upper-floor windows, new timber doors, new signage, a replacement traditional awning, roof repairs, improvements to the flat roof over the counter, storeroom and kitchen, and the creation of new staff welfare facilities.
The project has made a visible difference to the appearance of the building, while helping to safeguard a long-standing family business that forms part of Wrexham’s city centre history.
It has also supported the local economy, with local contractors securing contracts as part of the work, and more than £30,000 spent locally.
The improvements have helped improve customer experience, increase footfall and support the café’s longer-term plans, including the opening of a takeaway and future plans for an upstairs bar and function space.
Customers have already responded positively to the improvements, particularly the refreshed outdoor area, new signage and improved appearance of the building.
Hari Gould, owner of Marubbi’s Café said “Last year I was amazed to find out about the Transforming Towns Programme managed by Wrexham Council on behalf of Welsh Government. I couldn’t believe I was eligible to receive grants towards work that could improve my business.”
“I took over Marubbi’s in 2022 and had been trying to renovate and improve it as much as possible with what I had saved every week, but there were a lot of big jobs I knew I would have to let wait because I simply would not be able to afford them for a while.”
“This included fixing the flat roof that my great grandad had previously made, new doors and windows that were in desperate need of replacing, a toilet fitted, external painting, new signage and a new canopy which the customers had been desperate for because the previous one had rips in.”
“I would like to thank Anna the Project Officer from the Regeneration Team within Wrexham Council because she was extremely helpful and made everything very simple for me which isn’t an easy task.”
“I’d also like to thank Adrian from the Business Team at Wrexham Council for bringing the grant to my attention and keeping all the local businesses up to do date with Wrexham projects.”
Councillor Nigel Williams, Lead Member for Economy, Business and Tourism said, ‘the the provision of the Transforming Towns Programme makes funding for regeneration projects more accessible, enabling us to build on the successes we have already achieved in Wrexham. Marubbi’s Café is a fantastic example of a long-standing Wrexham business investing in its future, while protecting the heritage and character that makes our city centre special.”
“This project has not only improved the appearance of an important historic building, but has also helped support local contractors, create jobs and bring forward the businesses plans for growth.”
“It’s particularly pleasing to see a fifth-generation family business continuing to thrive in the heart of Wrexham. Improvements like this help strengthen the City Centre, support the local economy and make Wrexham a more attractive place for residents and visitors.”
Marubbi’s is located at 10 Bank Street, LL11 1AH, open 8:30am – 5pm.
You can contact Marubbi’s Café on 01978291897.
For more information of the Transforming Towns Programme, please email grants@wrexham.gov.uk
