The family behind a much loved pizzeria based on Wales' longest shopping street have been left overwhelmed by the response from customers after a message calling for support went viral. The Wood Fired Shack, located on the high street in Bangor, Gwynedd, issued an emotional plea via the restaurant's official Facebook page on Monday, saying the business needed people's support "now more than ever."
The message read: "This isn't a post we really wanted to have to post but, we need a little help if that's ok. As many of you know, we are a small independent business who opened not long before the pandemic which has been extremely hard as a new business and we are still recovering from this now.
"Like all of you, we are also massively impacted by the current cost of living crisis and the energy crisis. We know this is why many of you are eating out less and we fully understand this.
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"We are sure you all agree the current state of Bangor high street is an absolute mess. The amount of empty shops combined with the increasing anti-social behaviour on the high street means that sadly, Bangor isn't a particularly nice place to visit right now. Footfall for all business is down compared to recent years but we are trying really hard to hang in there and provide something great for the high street."
The post goes on to detail how the after effects of the coronavirus pandemic and now the cost of living and energy crisis had hit the firm's trade. In addition, the restaurant said that "ongoing" anti-social behaviour issues in and around the Bangor cathedral site, where the business is located, had plagued the the business for years and was putting customers off visiting.
The post finishes by saying: "All we are asking is if you are ever passing by and think 'I must try that place' please do. If you want freshly made, delicious food- we can't wait to welcome you.
"We understand the high street currently has very little to offer especially up our end with stores like New Look sadly closing down and the constant anti-social behaviour going on by the cathedral...but we are still here after all the challenges these last few years have thrown at us, and we truly do need support now more than ever."
The post has since been shared hundreds of times and led to a flurry of bookings at the family-run pizzeria in the hours after it went online. Avia Amos, who runs the Wood Fired Shack with partner Paul Cassar, said the couple were surprised to see the plea 'explode'.
"We've had a great deal of support after posting, the public support has been really heart warming," she added. "Saying that though, we are well aware that this is not life changing, it isn't going to make the issues just go away.
"But what we hope it does is highlight that those issues are there and need addressing." The couple opened the restaurant in 2019 and have already seen off several challenging trading years on the high street to remain open. Back in April, a second large cannabis factory was discovered in a building near the restaurant, shutting off the high street while police carried out investigations - a move which the couple say compounded their business woes.
When asked about the Wood Fired Shack's long term trading prospects, Avia said: "If things don't improve we wouldn't be able to keep the business running, and not just wouldn't, won't. I won't keep pouring money into something if it becomes apparent it is just going further and further downhill.
"You'd be a fool to keep pouring money into something when you're just about scraping by during what is meant to be the busy season. We're grateful for all the support, suggestions and the amount of people saying 'please don't leave', it is what you want to hear.
"But you have to think how will that translate it to continuing in that direction and in a sustainable way. It is hard to say what the solution is, but something needs to be done."
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