'Baffled' customers call on railway company to give Northampton's Magic Bean rent holiday before it goes under

Incensed customers are calling for West Midlands Railway to give a Northampton coffee shop a rent break to save it from going under.

The Chronicle & Echo reported earlier this week how The Magic Bean Emporium will likely have to leave its new home at Northampton Railway Station.

The magic-themed coffee shop wasn't even able to open for a full week at the station before the coronavirus lockdown began.

And, on Tuesday, the Magic Bean's heartbroken owner Michella Dos Santos told the Chron she will now likely have to vacate the unit after her landlords at the station has asked for her rent fees in full - despite never having the chance to serve customers.

It comes after the unit has been vacant for more than four years before Magic Bean moved in - but now it will likely go back to standing empty.

Now, the Chron's readers say they are "baffled" by the rent demands and are calling on West Midland Rail and London Northwestern to give the Magic Bean a rent holiday.

One reader, Hannah Simpson, wrote on the Chron's Facebook page: "This is so sad. I loved the cafe when it was in St Giles - so quirky & unique, and all the hard work will be for nothing because of greedy landlords.

"I really hope they change their minds... They went four years without any money for it a couple of months won’t harm."

Magic Bean moved to the train station in February after a year of repeated break-ins at its old home in St Giles Street.

Another reader, Gemma Thomason Williams, said: "This is so sad, I can't believe they are asking for £10,000 when she hasn't been able to make any money. I hope that the unit stays empty and then they won't get any rent!

"The poor women she got repeatedly broken into on Giles street then this happened to her."

Paul Robertson-Marriott wrote to the Chron to say: "It was shocking to read about the unfortunate timing of the Magic Bean Cafe and even more shocking to read about the seemingly intransigent attitude of the landlord to a rental holiday or concession.

"We desperately need small businesses to thrive and survive and the landlords [...] should move quickly to support the owner and her cafe.

"If the Magic Bean Cafe goes will the landlords want to wait another four years to get a replacement?"

These comments are just a handful of what was written on the Chron's Facebook page in support of the Magic Bean.

Speaking on Tuesday, a London Northwestern Railway spokesperson said: “We value the contribution of our retailers to the passenger experience at our stations and we are engaging with our tenants to offer guidance on the support available. We remain in discussions with Ms Dos Santos to find a workable solution in these unprecedented circumstances.”