On the cusp of 2019, it was declared that there was an outbreak of Covid 19, a contagious virus discovered in Wuhan, China. This virus spread rapidly worldwide, and we were all drastically affected by the early stages of 2020.

Country after country was forced to lockdown, hoping to prevent the spread of this dastardly virus that was infecting and killing more and more people every day. With everyone locked indoors during this worldwide pandemic, businesses across the globe were either struggling to stay afloat or completely going under.

The restrictions bestowed upon us left little customer traffic for the bulk of all trades. The one thing that wasn’t common anywhere in the world was the start of any small businesses while being significantly challenged by the government’s restrictions.

Natalie Macaulay was working nightshift for Sainsbury’s during the early stages of the UK’s lockdown before she left to pursue the opportunity to open her kerbside deli in the middle of Irvine town. To leave the general assistant role in a supermarket, one of the few secure jobs that looked to be going during these trying times, and venture off to begin the strenuous task of starting up her own funded business in the culinary field during a pandemic seemed immensely challenging.

While coping with the added pressure of starting up when so many other businesses in her field were struggling, she said, “People would tell me I was either stupid or smart as hell.

“Everyone needs to be fed and location is huge for a business like this.”

By succeeding in grabbing a spot in the heart of Irvine central and opening mid-November of 2020, a ghost town or not, people would often use their right to exercise during the lockdown to also pick up their non-contact lunch from this snug deli. Whilst many businesses feared for their lives, Natalie and the ‘Bank Street Deli’ were enjoying the spotlight of Irvine’s new, exciting and convenient stop.

The can-do mentality Natalie held throughout the opening of ‘Bank Street Deli’ is what seemed to fuel its success. She said, “My business partner only lasted three months. It ended up not being for her.

“She went into it thinking it would be like a few cups of coffee and a couple of rolls a day.”

This shows the determination Natalie has to make the business work from the get-go and that she isn’t one to give up when things get so demanding. Natalie’s struggles didn’t stop there as she later mentions her family loss during the early opening stages and constant financial headaches as she stated the risk of opening during the pandemic meant “We didn’t get any help from the government.”

We will never fully return to normality; the world will always have to be cautious and contain covid-19 as best we can. Natalie Macaulay, however, is proud of her business and is thriving now more than ever. With the pandemic being the demise of many careers, it’s a relief to hear a positive take on a local business and its birthing during the harshest times.

New business finds success during the pandemic