This is not any old shop – Sonder has just opened in Grand Arcade, bringing lifestyle, interiors and great coffee together all under one roof.
A new concept has arrived in style at Grand Arcade – there’s nothing else quite like Sonder in Leeds. This is a lifestyle, homeware and coffee shop, all rolled into one – a place where you can enjoy a coffee while you read or work, a place to find gifts or treats for your home and a place where you can discover the incredible work of local artists and makers, all centred around their ‘Japantro’ theme, a word they’ve coined to bring together Sonder’s appreciation of Japanese and retro design.
Credit: © Copyright Leeds-List 2023
Credit: © Copyright Leeds-List 2023
Credit: © Copyright Leeds-List 2023
The shop is the brainchild of local fine line tattooist, Olivia Fayne, and it sits right next door to her tattoo studio. Sonder started because of and centres around her passion for interior design. “Sonder is just an extension of my love for interiors and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” Olivia told us. “My partner and I wanted to develop a space that’s pretty much for everyday people from all walks of life. If they want to sit and chill they can do that, have a browse or even do work.”
With Olivia’s eye for interiors, the first thing you’ll notice is how appealing Sonder is on the eye. The ‘Japantro’ theme comes right to the fore, with its minimalist design, neutral colours and warm lighting spread across two stylishly designed floors. They have completely transformed this former beauty salon, even knocking walls through to create a more open space, into a destination that’s prime for shopping, relaxing and snacking – this is the realisation of the vision Olivia had for Sonder from the start.
Credit: © Copyright Leeds-List 2023
Credit: © Copyright Leeds-List 2023
Credit: © Copyright Leeds-List 2023
You can take that vision and bring it into your own home too. That’s because at its heart Sonder is a lifestyle store, so the design of the shop is reflected in the products you can buy for yourself. It’s filled with Japanese-inspired, mid-century design pieces that you won’t find elsewhere in Leeds. There are cups, coasters and bowls to add a unique touch to your kitchenware, while if you head downstairs you’ll find work and products from an eclectic and ever-changing array of local artists and makers.
But it’s more than just a pretty shop, it’s functional too. With plug sockets and work spaces, it’s perfect for getting away for a while to concentrate on that project you’re working on. There’s outdoor seating in the pretty old arcade too, but they’ve gone to great lengths to ensure the space remains calm, not overcrowded with people. “It was never about having a rotating door and churning customer in and out. We want to build a regular client base of people who just enjoy the space,” Olivia explained.
Credit: © Copyright Leeds-List 2023
Credit: © Copyright Leeds-List 2023
Credit: © Copyright Leeds-List 2023
Whether you’re working hard, or just having a mooch around, you can enjoy a good old brew whilst you’re there. Using Echelon Coffee on their state-of-the-art San Remo coffee machines, they do everything you’d expect from a cafe, whether it’s lattes, mochas or cappuccinos. But if you really want the taste of Sonder in a cup, go for the Sonder Signature – this divine hot chocolate is elevated with a swirl of caramel and a handful of toasted marshmallows.
Feeling peckish? They have some scrumptious baked goods made by Compassionate Kitchen – a Morley-based mother and daughter duo that specialise in plant-based, small-batch treats. You can indulge in a slice of blueberry and lemon cake, or scoff down a chai blondie. But it’s the Oreo Ball that’s got Olivia’s vote, “the Oreo Ball is dangerous, I can’t stop eating them! It’s an Oreo coated in a cookie dough blondie with a white chocolate ganache hardshell and it’s delicious.”
Credit: © Copyright Leeds-List 2023
Credit: © Copyright Leeds-List 2023
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2024 will see them add brunch to their food and drink offering, but for now, Sonder is content at being more than just a shop. It’s a place to escape daily life, and it’s something that Olivia wants to share with everyone who comes by. “If you want a really nice laid-back experience, where you can take twenty minutes, half an hour, just to chill out for a moment and take a bit of time to yourself — that’s what Sonder is,” she told us. You can shop, you can take a break, you can eat and you can drink – what more can you ask for?
Sonder, 27-28 Grand Arcade, Merrion Street, LS1 6PQ. It’s open from 8am to 4pm, Tuesday to Friday, and from 9am to 5pm on Saturdays.
