Coffee biz smells big opportunity with new store

ST. PETERSBURG — Kahwa Coffee Roasters is expanding to a 12th store and fourth drive-thru location, this one in a former Farm Stores in west St. Petersburg.

The location, 5820 9th Ave. N., was built in 1962, when the “T-shaped” structure was one of many Farm Stores statewide. By the mid-1980s, many of the remaining Farm Store structures were transformed into neighborhood bodegas, “losing much of their iconic appeal that was familiar to so many Floridians,” according to a press release.

“We have a special opportunity to restore a unique piece of architecture from an era-gone by,” says Kahwa owner Raphael Perrier in the statement. “We cannot wait to bring our vision for this drive-thru to the public and serve our signature blends to the rapidly-growing western side of St Petersburg.”

In addition to being the second location primarily designated as a drive-thru within the city limits of St. Petersburg, this will also be one of the smallest locations for Kahwa at 410 square feet, the release adds. The coffee shop will have a small outdoor seating area, similar to the Kahwa drive-thru on 3rd Street North.

Founded by husband and wife team Raphael and Sarah Perrier in 2006, Kahwa Coffee has grown from its first coffee shop in 2008 in St. Petersburg to opening coffee shops across Southwest Florida; providing signature roasts to 650 wholesale locations; being featured on HSN; and becoming the featured cafe in new Winn Dixie grocery store outlets across the Southeastern U.S. In 2016, the company partnered with NewsLink to serve locally roasted coffee in two locations at Tampa International Airport in Airside Terminals C and E.