SHOPKEEPERS in a once-quiet pocket of Birmingham have something to shout about after all the retail units in their block were occupied – for the first time in 20 years.

All of the premises at the Brandwood Road end of Woodthorpe Road in Kings Heath are open for business bucking a the trend for increasingly barren high streets with boarded-up shops.

The achievement finally happened when Cafe Ole opened in a unit formerly used as a florists.

Owner Dennis Stewart said: “I feel extremely proud to be part of this resurgence especially given the current economic climate. It’s the first time ever that a cafe has opened here so for us it’s about word of mouth.

“If we can offer a good service and get the prices right then it can work.”

There now stands a cafe, a convenience store, a butchers, a grocers, two takeaways and two hairdressers along the parade.

Hardip Sembi, who has run Sam’s Wines for nine years, said: “There’s a real buzz in the street and it’s great for us all. I’ve noticed an increase in passing trade with more people stopping because there’s more shops and more choice.”