Bys a Bawd Pawb, a historic Welsh-language bookstore on Denbigh Street in Llanrwst, Conwy County, has officially welcomed customers back after a five-month closure for extensive building and renovation work. The reopening follows a major community fundraising campaign that raised more than £125,000 in shares to purchase the premises from its former owner.
Community fundraising and support
The Conwy Valley community rallied together to raise the funds, with additional financial support secured from Perthyn, the Clocaenog Forest Wind Farm Fund, the Welsh Government, and the UK Government. Chair of the community shop and local county councillor Nia Clwyd Owen described the effort as a huge labour of love from the whole area, highlighting the strong spirit of enterprise and professional support from organisations such as Menter Iaith Conwy, along with local tradespeople, that made the reopening possible.
On a personal level, Owen said she had not anticipated that she would be contemplating kitchen options, collaborating with architects, or traipsing all over Wales sourcing new goods and crafts for the shop. She called it an amazing experience and expressed excitement to see customers' reactions as the shop reopens this week, promising a warm welcome to both new and familiar faces.
New look and stock
The updated store now stocks a wide selection of Welsh and English books, gifts, jewellery, household goods, toys, and Welsh-language products. Volunteers spent recent days moving stock back from their temporary trading base at Menter Iaith Conwy's offices on Ancaster Square.
The original business was founded in 1955 by the late Arianwen Parry, wife of the popular author Dafydd Parry. Organisers are inviting both existing residents and new visitors to drop by and support the market town's high street.
Community hopes and opening times
Mayor and town councillor Iola Gilbert commented that the hope is that the reopening of Bys a Bawd Pawb in its new guise will see the support of local residents to the market town and attract customers from far and wide to enjoy the range of goods and services that Llanrwst has to offer. Gilbert emphasised that the message is clear: there is a warm welcome awaiting customers at Bys a Bawd Pawb, and they are encouraged to call in and visit over the coming weeks and months.
The shop is located on Denbigh Street in Llanrwst and is open from 9:30am to 5pm Tuesday to Friday, and from 9am to 1pm on Saturday.
