This Saturday marks another milestone in the life of West Belfast woman, Chloe McCann. Less than a year after taking the plunge and deciding to start her own business, February 1 marks the official launch of Coffee&Clo, a renovated retro van serving specialty coffee, hot drinks and sweet treats.
For Chloe, 26, it's been months of blood, sweat and tears on her journey to this point of owning her dream business. Chloe also works in social care and will have to juggle that career alongside her exciting new venture.
She told Belfast Live: "Around this time last year I decided I really wanted to start up a coffee van. I have no previous barista experience so this has all been very new to me but I've learnt so much over the past year and enjoyed every minute. Everyone has been so great and supportive along the way so I feel very fortunate.
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Chloe bought a rusty old caravan online last January with the vision of converting it into a coffee van: "Some people laughed and others called me crazy but within less than a year I've completely renovated the van from the inside out with the help of so many people.
"It's been a labour of love over the past few months ripping it apart inside and converting it into a coffee van in less than a year! I've had a few events in the run up to this weekend including the Ardbone Festival Fun Day in August and the following month we had some pop-up and private events in recent months and every time the responses were great.
"I recently secured a permanent spot for it in my local community in the Blackstaff Mill on Springfield Road and that's where we'll be for the foreseeable future. The opening day is this Saturday, February between 9-4pm at Blackstaff Mill and our opening days from Saturday onwards will be Monday - Saturday 8-4pm and closed on Sundays.
"We're also available for any events or functions you're planning and anyone can contact our social media pages with enquiries. I'm so grateful to everyone who has supported me over the past year because without you, none of this would have been possible. I'm forever grateful. See you on Saturday!"
You can follow Coffee&Clo on Facebook and Instagram.
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