Divine Project coffee shop set to open in Market Street

The Divine Project a specialist coffee shop focusing on 'freshly roasted, genuinely good coffee', is set to open in 22-24, Market Street later this month.

The shop was previously Toymaster and before that, The Early Learning Centre and the new venture is a collaboration between the owners of North South bar in Bootham and Divine Coffee Roasters, a York-based coffee roastery with a cafe in Micklegate.

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North South, in Bootham, opened back in 2019 and was Rich and Laura Taylor's first venture into a business start up. 

The couple called the business North South as Laura was formerly based in the North East, while Rich grew up near Cambridge and North South will remain open alongside the new venture.

Speaking about the new venture, Laura said: "The Divine Project is a specialist coffee shop with a focus on fresh coffee that is roasted locally.

"It will be a central space for anyone who wants to buy coffee to brew at home, as well as to enjoy with us.

"Alongside coffee we will be selling pastries baked freshly every day, deeply filled sandwiches and cakes baked locally.

"We don't plan to have an alcohol license, however we may hold events from time to time."

The business plans to open on Saturday, August 17 and will be open from 8am - 6pm.

Work is now underway to convert the empty premises into the new coffee shop.

The Early Learning Centre closed back in 2015 and the building then housed the Toymaster store, which also sold children's toys.