Cooking up success

Perry Street Market Café, owned by Brian Drinan and Paul Coffey, who have backgrounds in finance and retail respectively, first opened in 2013 in Cork City Centre.

Brian says, "I had trained as a chef and as the recession came, we were forced into thinking about what else we could do, what we really love, and food was our biggest passion."

It has now expanded to include locations in City Gate, Mahon, Ringaskiddy, and Little Island. The business was able to capitalise on Cork’s local food scene, "Cork has absolutely amazing producers so we're very blessed with some really good cheesemongers, butchers and farmlands."

This allowed Perry Street to adopt a philosophy of simplicity, aiming "to get the food and do as little as possible to it."

Their fifth location just opened last year at Cooney’s Lane in Grange which houses a modern café, deli, and food store offering delicious menu items including their famous Warm Chicken and Black Pudding Salad.

Their new venture of Perry Street Living includes everything from furniture and gifting to soft furnishings and kitchen equipment. This expansion is helping them diversify the business, including launching a podcast, "It is a lifestyle podcast with really interesting guests from business to sport and entertainment."

Brian says Perry Street has had to evolve, but their customers are always like family, "There are people who come to the city just to come to Perry Street. It’s a really popular spot on Christmas Eve! We know them all by name too, so it’s a real community business.”

And Brian says FBD has supported them through everything, “We have dealt with them for several years, and they have a very personable approach. While they're nationwide, they have local offices and they’re always available.”

Starting as a small food passion project, Perry Street has grown into a huge lifestyle brand. It shows that businesses can prosper while embracing new opportunities.

“At Perry Street, you’ll find good food, lots of noise, laughter and energy. And not to mention lots of amazing desserts and cakes, which we bake from scratch every morning. You have to try the red velvet cake!”

Check out the menu and the latest lifestyle pieces at perrystreet.ie