Plans have gone in for a trendy international brand to open its first branch in York.
Joe & The Juice, the global juice bar and café chain famous for its premium smoothies, juices, and shakes, is set to move into a prominent corner spot in the heart of the city centre.
Planning documents say it wants to move into 1–2 St Sampson’s Square and 1 Feasegate. This prominent Grade II listed site is home to the Size? trainer and shoe store.
Joe & The Juice UK Ltd has submitted a full planning application and listed building consent to City of York Council to completely transform the property.
The plans outline a major overhaul inside and out. On the ground floor, the shoe shop layout would be stripped back to make way for a brand-new bar and service counter area where staff will create the brand’s drinks.
The existing modern staircase is staying put, leading customers up to the first floor, which is set to be converted into an open-plan seating area with tables, chairs and sofas. The second floor will be used for stock storage, a staff kitchen, and office space.
Externally, the building would get a colourful facelift under the plans. The applicant wants to deep clean and paint the existing shopfront framework in the brand’s signature “amber red” colour.
They are also planning to remove a secondary entrance door on the Feasegate side and replace it with a larger display window to increase natural light in the café.
The chain wants to install two of its non-illuminated pink and black projecting hanging signs featuring its smoking-man logo on the historic 1770s building. There would also be white “Joe & The Juice” 3D letters across the fascia.
“Joe & The Juice are a prominent juice bar/café known by many people around the world for exceptional smoothies, juices and food,” planning documents state.
“Allowing Joe & The Juice to operate in the space will bring increased employment and opportunities for local people and continued social and economic regeneration of the city.”
Founded in Copenhagen in 2002, Joe & The Juice now has more than 500 locations worldwide.
If it’s York store opens, it would be the first in Yorkshire.
You can read and comment on the planning application here.
