News Summary
Point Chaud Coffee & Crepes has officially opened its first Florida location in St. Petersburg, enhancing the café scene in the city. Located at the ARK Innovation Center, the café offers a diverse menu of gourmet coffee, crepes, and more, aimed at attracting both local residents and university students. Despite delays due to hurricane preparations, it is now operational, featuring an outdoor patio and complimentary Wi-Fi. With plans for further expansion, Point Chaud is set to become a community favorite.
St. Petersburg welcomed a new café as Point Chaud Coffee & Crepes opened its first location in Florida on September 17. The café is situated at the ARK Innovation Center, located at 1101 4th Street S. This café addition marks the expansion of the established chain, which already has locations in Washington D.C. and Maryland. The announcement of this café’s opening was met with enthusiasm as it aims to attract both local residents and college students from the nearby University of South Florida St. Petersburg.
Mourad Kacimi, a partner at Point Chaud, expressed commitment to investing in Pinellas County through this new location. Kacimi, who moved to the St. Petersburg area in 2021, has actively pursued local expansion to capitalize on the area’s growth potential. The choice of location was strategic, stemming from its close proximity to the university, which aligns with Point Chaud’s goal of catering to a younger demographic and fostering a sense of community among students.
However, the opening of Point Chaud faced significant delays, largely due to obstacles related to the 2024 hurricane season. Despite these challenges, the café is now fully operational and ready to serve its customers. Point Chaud has designed its café to operate daily from 7 AM to 7 PM, offering an outdoor patio for guests to enjoy their meals in a pleasant environment, along with complimentary Wi-Fi.
Point Chaud features a diverse menu that is expected to appeal to a wide range of customers. Signature offerings include gourmet Lavazza coffee, a variety of crepes, fresh salads, paninis, and quiches. Additionally, the menu includes gluten-free and vegetarian options as well as desserts like gelato. This range of options aims to ensure that there is something for everyone, appealing to health-conscious patrons, sweet-toothed cafe-goers, and everyone in between.
The ARK Innovation Center, where Point Chaud is located, is operated by the Tampa Bay Innovation Center and serves as a vital space for tech startups and entrepreneurs. Its mission is to foster collaboration and innovation across sectors such as robotics, artificial intelligence, energy storage, healthcare, and education. Rebecca Brown, the president and CEO of the Tampa Bay Innovation Center, noted that the presence of Point Chaud will significantly enhance community interaction within this vibrant hub.
In addition to the newly opened St. Petersburg location, plans are already in place for another Point Chaud café to open in St. Pete Beach, expected to launch in late October or early November. This sustained growth strategy indicates the café’s management’s confidence in the demand for its unique offerings and the support of the local community.
Since its establishment in 2005, Point Chaud Coffee & Crepes has garnered popularity, building a loyal customer base thanks to its culinary offerings. As the first Florida location begins its journey, it appears poised to continue this tradition while providing a welcoming gathering place for both locals and visitors in St. Petersburg.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- I Love the Burg
- Wikipedia: Coffee
- St. Pete Catalyst
- Google Search: Point Chaud Coffee & Crepes
- TBB Business Magazine
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Cafe
- DCist
- Google News: St. Petersburg cafes
Author: STAFF HERE PETERSBURG WRITER
ST PETERSBURG STAFF WRITER The ST PETERSBURG STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREStPetersburg.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in St Petersburg, Pinellas County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Localtopia, and SHINE Mural Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce and St. Pete Downtown Partnership, plus leading businesses in finance, manufacturing, and healthcare that power the local economy such as Raymond James Financial, Jabil, and Bayfront Health St. Petersburg. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREOrlando.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
