00:30Hello everybody, I'm glad you're all here today. I've had a sneak peek in, I've been around, it's absolutely marvellous, it's so modern and airy and nice, it's going to be such a comfortable place for people to come, especially the younger ones, and maybe some of us older ones that like this kind of thing, but it's going to be great, so I'm going to get you all in there so you can have a look around, we're going to cut the ribbon, declare it officially open, we have a big cheer when the ribbon goes down as well, yeah?
00:57So, after three, one, two, three.
01:07With the Mayor of Walsall in the Victorian Arcade, what's your name, madam?
01:11I'm Councillor Louise Harrison.
01:13And Louise, isn't it fantastic, this Victorian Arcade, it's stunning, isn't it?
01:18It is, it's stunning and thriving, I mean, you've only got to look around, all the shops are open, there's people busying about everywhere doing their shopping and it's fantastic, it's wonderful.
01:27I mean, right behind me, you can get a port back for two quid, and I've had one from there before and they're delicious, they don't skimp on the size.
01:34I'm just watching somebody buying one.
01:36Yeah, yeah, no, they are, they're delicious.
01:38So we're here today to open the Card Loft, it's kind of like a gaming shop, isn't it?
01:43We'll chat to Damien a bit about what he does, but it's just another great addition to the town centre, isn't it?
01:49It is, and I've been in and had a walk around, and it is lovely, it's what people want nowadays, isn't it?
01:55The kids want this kind of thing going on, and it's busy in there already.
01:59I open the door and I have to stand and let about 30 people through, which is good, which is good.
02:05And, you know, a lot of people will say, well, Walsall hasn't got this, it hasn't got that anymore.
02:10And yes, it has changed, but I dare say, if you went up and down these streets and, you know, assessed all the shops that are here, there is still plenty going on for people, isn't there?
02:20There is definitely, like I say, there's everybody busying about here, and you can see people sitting down there having a, looks like a cup of coffee and that, and going about their daily shopping.
02:31And yeah, it's a little busy place, it's fine.
02:33Right, well, we'll let you enjoy your special little Card Loft cake.
02:37Thank you, Mrs. Mayor.
02:38Damien, hello, sir, are you all right?
02:40Yes, I'm good, thank you.
02:41So this is your project, the Card Loft, this is your baby?
02:43Yes, yes, it's very new, very fresh, yeah.
02:45So tell us a little bit about yourself, then, is this your first step into this world of retail?
02:50Yes, I've worked in more corporate roles before now.
02:53I kind of wanted to just do something on my own, technique, on my own, fit my own boss sort of thing.
02:58Yeah, yeah.
02:59And did you always have your, in the back of your mind, were you always thinking, if I do, I want the Victorian Arcade?
03:05It's quite poetic, actually.
03:06Yeah, I used to come here as a young boy, there was a shop in here called Bennett's.
03:10Oh, yeah.
03:10And we used to come, me and my brother, after school.
03:13What did they used to do there, then?
03:14Something similar, so, collect some of the stuff, but we used to buy out Pokemon cars from there,
03:18back when we were, what, how old were we now?
03:20Going back 20, 15 years ago.
03:22Oh, wow.
03:22Yeah, it's quite, yeah, it's quite full, full circle model.
03:24Yeah, yeah.
03:25So, you mentioned Pokemon, what, what, tell us about what people can expect if they come
03:30into the car blocker?
03:32We've tried to create, like, a modern space for all types of games, really.
03:37The younger, young-ish children trying to get into trading cards for people in my generation
03:42that like to collect or even play the games.
03:44So, we offer a wide range of trading cards, like Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, and Magic Gathering.
03:51And we've also got the loft area upstairs, which we hope to host community events,
03:57and just create, like, a nice, like, safe space for people to come, play the games, open their cards.
04:01So, that'll be like an event gaming space, up there, too.
04:04Yeah, hopefully.
04:04We're looking to host, like, off each of the games, really, as long as we can get the interest.
04:09Yeah, yeah.
04:09And we'll happily put the events on for the space, on for people to come and play.
04:12Yeah.
04:12So, where are you from? You're obviously an awesome man.
04:15Yeah, is that giveaway?
04:16Yeah, yeah, yeah.
04:17Yeah, but I've always lived in Walsy. I grew up in Fleck.
04:20Yeah, yeah, yeah.
04:20I'm in Shellfield now. It's not too far away, yeah.
04:23Well, we wish you all the best, mate. I mean, people are loving what you've got here today.
04:27We were chatting to a young man who got his eye on that Pokemon chess set, which is great.
04:32So, we were just checking out this chess set. It's Pokemon, isn't it?
04:35Yeah.
04:35You're a big fan of Pokemon?
04:37Yeah.
04:37Cool. So, what do you think of the shop, then? You've had a look. Tell me what you think.
04:41I think it's really big, and I like all the things that are in there.
04:45Anything in particular you've got your eye on?
04:47Erm, the My Hero Academia I'm just going back to.
04:51Oh, wow. Okay, cool. And you quite like the look of this chess set, don't you?
04:55Yeah.
04:55Yeah, you and me both, matey. Cool. Enjoy your shopping.
