'I'm overwhelmed': Northampton's Magic Bean owner launches campaign to save her coffee shop after outpouring of support on Chron articles

A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to save Northampton's Magic Bean Emporium from shutting down under the weight of its lockdown rent fees.

The timing could not have been worse for the Magic Bean Emporium. The magic-inspired coffee shop left its home in St Giles Street at the beginning of this year in the wake of repeated break-ins.

Soon after the closure though, owner Michella Dos Santos announced her shop had found a new home in the large vacant unit at Northampton Railway Station.

Hundreds of the Chronicle & Echo's readers were happy to see the Magic Bean make a fresh start and were eager to visit when it opened in March.

Then, the lockdown began.

Michella and her team could not open the Magic Bean at its new home for even a week before she was ordered to shut by the Government on March 23.

And now, after eight weeks, her landlords - London Northwestern Railway - have asked for the full rent of £10,000 for her tenancy despite never having the chance to serve customers.

Earlier this week, a heartbroken Michella told the Chron how it was likely she would have to vacate her new unit and walk away with nothing.

But now, after reading the outpouring of support from customers on the Chron's Facebook page, Michella has decided to take one more chance to save the Magic Bean.

A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to raise the £10,000 needed to pay Michella's rent and give her the chance to serve her customers at the station.Michella announced the Crowdfunder campaign in an emotional video after reading her customers' comments on the Chron and receiving many messages of support.

In the video, she said: "I'm sure most of you have now seen the Chronicle & Echo article. I've avoided reading the comments because I was sure they would be negative and I was embarrassed.

"But I've read quite a few today and I've received quite a lot of messages, and I just want to say thank you to so many people. So many of you have messaged me asking me to start a crowdfunder and offered to buy gift cards.

"I'm really overwhelmed. I'll consider offering a drink in return for a donation - but I just want to say thank you."

The Crowdfunder has until June 18 to raised £10,000 and is an all-or-nothing fundraiser - if it doesn't meet its target, nothing will happen.

For more information or to donate to the effort, visit Michella's Crowdfunder page.