Spotlight on iCafe
iCafe in the Merchant City
Initially aimed at students and those with little or no access to the Internet, the group of iCafes in Glasgow are now firmly embedded in their local communities and attracting increasing numbers of visitors to the city.
Launched two decades ago with a single 10-seater cafe by Umer Ashraf Malik when just a teenager, the chain now comprises branches in Ingram Street, Woodlands Road and Bridgeton Cross with a fourth due to open in December at Springfield Quay.
Internet cafes or cybercafes mushroomed in the 1990s in response to demand for shared access to computers with high bandwidth.
“Most people now have their own computer in the form of a mobile phone or laptop but we offer an ideal, relaxing way to work and communicate with friends and family,” says Marco Di Chio, Group Business Manager and Manager of the flagship Ingram Street outlet. “Love of people and coffee is at the heart of everything that we do,” he adds. “Our menu also features a wide variety of freshly prepared dishes, all made with premium 100% Halal ingredients. This commitment to quality and inclusivity reflects the diverse city we serve and ensures there’s something for everyone.”
People living in small apartments appreciate space to spread out to work or simply get a change of scenery. Those in offices like a break from the day-to-day hubbub; remote workers find a peaceful environment with beverages and food on hand.
Private meeting rooms can be hired at £15 an hour and the Ingram Street cafe also hosts training courses, language lessons, a book club and small birthday parties.
The staff of 40 enjoy fixed hours contracts, not zero hours ones, and iCafe participates in apprenticeship schemes with Skills Development Scotland for young people in hospitality.
Interestingly, Marco is witnessing Glasgow’s increasing popularity as a tourist destination in its own right, with visitors coming just to see round the city, not book-ending their stay in Scotland.
The city’s mural trail is a major attraction and he bemoans the fate of the world famous wildlife mural opposite the Ingram Street premises, due to be partially obscured by the construction of more than 100 apartments. MCTCC selected its design and campaigned for many years, so far unsuccessfully, for the car park in front of it to be transformed into Merchant City’s first park.
“Our role as a community hub is something we value deeply,” Marco sums up. “We’re proud to support opportunities for people to connect, create, and share.”
Interesting fact about Marco: He grew up in Verona, speaking Venetian – a language, he stresses, not a dialect.
