Nottingham's very first K-Pop store and cafe is on the move. The House of PKL opened last November, with Korean music, street food and boba tea at its heart.
Its present location is rather off the beaten track, on St James's Terrace, so the business is to relocate to new premises in a prime spot in the city centre. Later this summer, it will take over an empty shop on the corner of Upper Parliament Street and King Street, which used to sell gym equipment.
The new store and street food cafe will be over two floors. On the top floor will be CDs, albums and merchandise such as lightsticks and photo trading cards, plus K-Beauty products. Downstairs will be drinks and a western take on Korean street food.
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Korean-style loaded fries, chicken bites coated in a Korean sauce, chicken wings with a Korean dip, kimbap and other snacks, yet to be decided, will be on the menu.
Owner Anastasia Tsappis said: "We want to be a destination place and for the local population of Nottingham to come and try a Korean kick to fast food. We wanted a more central location. Currently there is a hill for our customers to walk up and they walk in panting.
"We have been quite successful despite very little marketing and being out of the way. People from all over the country come to us.
"Very many people in Nottingham still don't know we exist though. Upstairs will be the biggest K-Pop store in the country and will are going to be stocking K-Beauty, and I believe no one else in Nottingham is doing that properly. We are very excited for the general population of Nottingham to realise we exist. Those who know K-Pop have seen the posters and seem to be very excited to see we're opening.
"We will be the first place in the country with a dedicated social space for eating and drinks based around K-Pop. It will be predominately takeaway with a few seats, probably up to 20, but these are the things we're working out."
She hopes to open at the new bigger site in mid-August. Anastasia, a Cypriot living in Wollaton, ventured into Korean culture after her three daughters became K-Pop fans. She said: "We were having to travel to London, Birmingham and Manchester but what we realised is they were just stores with no proper social space. You couldn't go and eat and drink. You'd go for the day and walk around the store and then you'd have to go and find somewhere else to eat and drink."
The takeaway will be open every day. Currently the cafe on St James's Terrace is only open on Saturdays or for events celebrating the anniversary, a birthday or an album release by a K-Pop idol with themed drinks.
