Portobello resident brings juice bar dream to life from boarded-up shop
A lifelong Notting Hill resident has transformed run-down Portobello Road premises into a healthy business after taking advantage of a special lease from Kensington and Chelsea council.
Usama Ghamhi, 29, approached the council with his plan to open Cleanse Juice Bar and Kitchen after seeing the building, in the world-famous Portobello Road, boarded up and sitting empty.
His proposal resulted in the council offering Usama a social investment lease, which provides the entrepreneur with favourable terms and brings an unused commercial property back into action.
Speaking after renovating the building and opening Cleanse, Usama, who was born and raised in Portobello Road, said: “I’ve been going up and down this road every day all my life, and I saw the shop was empty for a good two years.
“I reached out to councillor Kim Taylor-Smith and just asked ‘if I come up with a good business plan and you believe it would work, will you give me a shot?’
“It feels great and thankfully it shows to people just like me or where I’m from that anything is possible and can definitely get something if you work hard.”
Kensington and Chelsea councillor Kim Taylor-Smith said: “Usama’s vision and work ethic are infectious and we were only too happy to back his plans for Cleanse, which is a wonderful addition to Portobello Road’s thriving commercial line-up.
“This lease, which supports a young entrepreneur with a lifelong link to the area and breathes new life into vacant premises, is a perfect example of how social investment can have a positive impact on our residents’ lives.
“We are working hard to embed social investment across the council, from our parks and leisure contracts to our new homes schemes.”
Recent examples of the council’s social investment in action include a 10-year grounds maintenance, sports and bereavement services contract awarded to idverde, which will see the company provide employment, skills and volunteering opportunities.
The Building Lives Academy has also benefited. It provides construction skills training to young people and is based in council-owned premises in North Kensington which have been provided to developer Willmott Dixon on a social investment lease.
Pictured top: Usama at the Cleanse bar (Picture: RB Kensington & Chelsea)
Everyone at the South London Press thanks you for your continued support.
Former Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has encouraged everyone in the country who can afford to do so to buy a newspaper, and told the Downing Street press briefing:
“A FREE COUNTRY NEEDS A FREE PRESS, AND THE NEWSPAPERS OF OUR COUNTRY ARE UNDER SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL PRESSURE”
If you can afford to do so, we would be so grateful if you can make a donation which will allow us to continue to bring stories to you, both in print and online. Or please make cheques payable to “MSI Media Limited” and send by post to South London Press, Unit 112, 160 Bromley Road, Catford, London SE6 2NZ
