THE OWNER of the Cayley Kiosk which is currently being demolished has thanked customers for their support, as he looks forward to its replacement being built.

The old kiosk had stood on the Cayley Promenade for more than 50 years, but Conwy County Borough Council took possession of the site on November 14 with plans to demolish.

This was part of the Rhos-on-Sea coastal defence work, initially putting the future prospects of owner Moussa Salem in jeopardy.

Mr Salem has been given a temporary bus kiosk until the new kiosk is constructed, but says it was difficult to say goodbye to his previous site after 21 years.

“It was really sad to see it go, myself and my customers were in tears,” Moussa told the Pioneer.

“The kiosk has been there for 60, 70 years - it was heart-breaking for us and our customers.”

North Wales Pioneer: The old Cayley Kiosk was a popular seaside stop. The old Cayley Kiosk was a popular seaside stop. (Image: Sarah Jervis)

The old kiosk was of great importance to Moussa, more so than a normal workplace, and was filled with family memories across more than two decades.

Moussa said: “My daughter was only a couple of months old when we bought the kiosk and now she’s over 21, she’s been brought up there, she was in tears.

“It’s not just a kiosk or where you get coffee or tea, it’s a hub.

“I know customers that have been coming for over 15 years and they wake up in the morning and they know exactly where they’re going - the demolition of my kiosk really disturbed them.

“I was really worried, I was crying when I saw them the last time they visited the kiosk, I was really emotional.

“Customers came looking for me to see if I am there [where the old one was], it was really hard to take.”

Moussa says the Council has assured him that when the new kiosk is built it will be his, and is grateful to both the Council and members of the public who supported his livelihood.

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Having had ‘sleepless’ nights thinking about preparing the temporary bus kiosk as quickly as possible to protect the wellbeing of customers, he wished he had had a ‘month off’ after the stress of the change.

“They offered us the bus and they promised me the new kiosk – I thank them for that,” said Moussa.

“That will be within a year. We haven’t got the exact location, but it will be around the surrounding area [of the old one].

“I think that all goes down to the support we have from the public, they were overwhelming in their support and I’ve never felt something like it in my life.

“I can’t wait for the new one, for us, for the community and visitors alike as well.”

The temporary bus kiosk has been open for just over three weeks.