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New coffee shop/restaurant coming to Central Avenue
Southern Grounds & Company, a coffee shop and restaurant combination, is set to open Aug. 18 at 695 Central Ave.
This will be the Jacksonville-based company’s eighth location. It will serve breakfast, lunch, brunch and dinner.
St. Pete location owners and operators Nick Presti, Zach Presti and Jordan Hooten decided on the area after seeing an opportunity in the market.
“The coffee scene is seriously impressive,” Nick Presti explained to the Catalyst. “We have something that’s not totally focused on coffee, but has a full food program as well. We didn’t think that really existed.”
Choosing Central Avenue was a strategic choice and made sense with the brand, Presti added.
“It’s been on our eyes every time we come down here,” he said. “It took us a better part of a year and half to find the right opportunity on Central.”
A key aspect of Southern Grounds’ mission is sustainability.
“We do direct trade with our farmers through Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea, which is our roaster, so there’s no middle man,” Presti explained. “We know exactly what the farmer is growing.”
A lot of the materials in the space are also recyclable. This reflects St. Pete’s emphasis on eco-friendliness, he believes.
The owners want Southern Grounds to honor the city’s art culture, Presti added. They hired local mural artist Matt Kress to paint a 30-foot wall inside the location.
Southern Grounds will additionally participate in the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance’s Second Saturday ArtWalk. Live music at the location is planned for the weekends.
“We want to get into the space and get it operating at a good point and then try to introduce the music,” he said. “It’s something that’s on the radar.”
Supporting community businesses is another important part of the Southern Grounds experience, Presti explained. “That’s kinda the thing about St. Pete, if you’re not doing something local, you missed out on the memo.”
The restaurant is partnering with St. Pete-based Green Bench Brewing Company to offer some of the brewery’s beers on tap.
Southern Grounds’ owners believe creating an inclusive environment is key. The St. Pete location will have a “bright, relaxing, lounge neighborhood vibe,” Presti said.
During the evening hours, he added, the establishment will be akin to a tapas and wine bar.
The company plans to open another location in Channelside (Tampa) at the end of the year or early next year.
