Emily's cafe, in Thornton, put on market as owners 'too busy'

Emily’s coffee shop was opened in 2014 in 72-74 Market Street in Thornton – better known as the birthplace of the Bronte sisters.

After running it as a successful cafe ever since, owner Marc De Luca has decided to sell the business, due to family commitments.

Since the cafe opened he and his wife Michelle have had two children, and he told the Telegraph & Argus that they were no longer able to devote enough time to family, Emily’s and their other business, De Luca Hair.

He is planning to sell the business and building privately, which he says will help him make sure the building’s future is in safe hands. He has no plans to shut the business before a new buyer is found.

The unassuming terrace property was occupied by the Reverend Patrick Bronte during his tenure at Thornton Chapel. Anne, Branwell, Charlotte and Emily Bronte were born and raised there between 1815 and 1820 before the family moved to Haworth.

In the years before the coffee shop opened, the future of the building was uncertain – it had been shut for some time and efforts to re-open it as a museum never bore fruit.

Although Emily’s operated as a business, many of the features still remained, and customers could sit in front of the fireplace the siblings were said to have been born in front of.

The business has become one of the best rated in the district on TripAdvisor.

Mr De Luca said: “The idea is for someone else to take the business on to take it to the next level. We’re not selling because the business is unsuccessful, we’re just struggling to be able to open more than four days a week because of commitments. When we bought the property and set the business up we didn’t have two young children. Running two businesses is something that requires your full attention.

“Whoever buys it has to be the right calibre of person. We don’t want to sell it to a property developer from London.

“We live in the village so we still want to make sure any new owner does the best for Thornton. It is a great starting point for anyone who wants to open a business here. Our intention is to keep it open until it is sold.

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“It has become quite an attraction for the village, so we want that to remain. It is successful, and gets a lot of tourists in, and long may it continue. You have people coming in here who have come from all over the globe, so you have to be respectful to its history.”

Mr De Luca is accepting offers privately, and anyone interested in buying the business can email him on mark@delucaboutique.co.uk