First chocolate kebab shop opens in Bray
IRELAND’S very first chocolate kebab shop is located in Bray, on the corner of the Main Street and Quinsboro Road.
‘Sprinkles’ was opened by husband and wife team Declan and Christina Woods, who established the premises at the end of August.
Declan explained that they had a different business idea for the premises initially however they ran into a planning roadblock and had to re-think their business ideas.
The had obtained the location and felt it was too valuable to do nothing and abandon their plans altogether.
They previously did some work on opening an ice-cream parlour in Dun Laoghaire.
They steered away from that project for a number of reasons however it meant they had some of the groundwork done for Sprinkles, and the Bray location.
When the premises came available, Declan happened to be passing by and noticed it was vacant. He sought out the owner and they got the ball rolling.
‘We were able to move fairly fast,’ said Declan, who said that Christina found the chocolate kebab machine online and the rest followed.
‘It’s the first one in Ireland and it’s great that we have it,’ said Declan.
They knew they would have to do more, as people were unlikely to buy the chocolate treat at 8.30 in the morning.
As well as the kebabs, waffles and other sweet treats, they serve smoothies and coffees.
‘We went to an exhibition in the RDS looking at different coffee producers and roasters from all around the world. We wanted to buy a coffee machine and source our coffee beans, but we didn’t. It was like looking for a needle in a haystack.’
From talking to friends they heard about Bell Lane Coffee.
‘ They had a good reputation and were supplying to Avoca Handweavers which was a pull for us.’
The rep came in and gave them training and they started selling coffee. A coffee promotion for two weeks got people in the door and the nice coffee got them to stick.
The only regret Declan has so far, is that they didn’t get in on time to trade during the summer of 2016, opening just three days before the start of school.
‘If we’d opened on June 1 we would have had a great summer,’ he said.
Declan has been a business owner before, he had a company providing home care to the elderly. Prior to that his family had a nursing home in Bray.
Christina has a background in printing and graphic design.
‘I always did want to get into the food business,’ said Declan, who went to catering college in Galway and has worked in restaurants and hotels.
He has also always liked being his own boss and knows that success is possible through hard work.
‘I like people and talking to people,’ he added. ‘ The people of Bray have been very good to me and are genuinely nice people.’
To find out more, find Sprinkles Cafe Bar on Facebook.