The owners of a new Italian deli shop opening up in Ipswich have said they hope to bring something "unique" to the town with "hearty, homemade" food.
Andy and Katrina Wilce, 53 and 56 respectively, are planning to open St Nicholas Sandwich Shop in St Nicholas Street within "the next couple of weeks".
The shop will be focussing on the breakfast, brunch and lunchtime trade, offering "good, hearty, homemade focaccia bread with Florence and American style deli fillings."
"We have always fancied a sandwich shop, but we could never find the right location," said the couple.
"But then we saw a unit up for sale along St Nicholas Street which we thought would be perfect, with us sitting nicely alongside other independents."
Andy, who is from Ipswich, is a qualified chef with over 30 years of experience, while Katrina, from Staffordshire, currently works for St Elizabeth's Hospice as a community nurse.
The shop's unique selling point is a focus on foccacia-style sandwiches on homemade bread.
Its menu includes Italian-style sandwiches, such as meat caprese and Tuscan chicken, alongside American-themed dishes, such as smoked backed bacon, banana, peanut butter and maple syrup on focaccia.
"We are hoping to achieve something quite unique for Ipswich - and probably for the UK as well," said the pair.
"We will be offering other favourites with homemade cakes, sausage rolls and salads all to eat in or take out.
"We may open further shops across Suffolk, but one step at a time!"
The shop's opening comes amid a series of independent shop closures in the area.
Popular restaurants La Cueva and K Bar and Grill recently closed their doors, citing rising bills and a drop in footfall, while retailer Dress and Impress also shut up shop.
The unit in the new shop will be opening was formerly occupied by St Nicholas Stores - another deli bar serving homemade cakes, sandwiches and pastries.
However, Andy and Katrina hope their arrival will bring "some positive news amid a lot of doom and gloom about pubs and restaurants closing in Ipswich."
"We are refurbishing the shop and hope to be open in about two weeks," they added.
Once open, the shop will operate between 8am and 2.30pm.
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