Ybor City is getting a fresh jolt of caffeine. Foxtail Coffee is set to open its first Tampa shop on May 1, taking over a street-level spot on the ground floor of Casa Marti along East Seventh Avenue. The Winter Park born chain is planning indoor seating, sidewalk tables and custom artwork that tips its hat to the neighborhood's Cuban roots. The new cafe will be supplied by Foxtail’s Central Florida roasting operations and is expected to pour everything from manual-brewed coffee to classic espresso drinks.
Ground-floor cafe and buildout plans
As reported by Tampa Bay Business & Wealth, Foxtail is slated to debut May 1 at 220 E. Seventh Ave. in the Casa Marti building. Plans filed with the city show a buildout that includes a service counter, espresso bar, prep space, indoor seating and sidewalk tables. The Ybor cafe will be supplied through Foxtail's Orlando and Winter Park operations, with coffee beans sourced from Colombia and Mexico. "We craft everything," operating partner Hayde Rodriguez told the outlet, while Casa Marti developer Darryl Shaw called Foxtail Coffee "a great addition to Ybor City."
Foxtail's roots and roasting
Foxtail launched in 2016 in Winter Park, founded by Alex Tchekmeian, and has since grown into a regional chain that leans heavily on neighborhood-focused cafés and local roasting. According to Foxtail Coffee Co., the company roasts its beans in Orlando and highlights ethically sourced single-origin coffee as part of its "from bean to brew" philosophy. The brand has branched into several concepts, ranging from traditional cafés to Farmhouse locations and shops that pair Foxtail coffee with Kelly's Homemade Ice Cream.
Casa Marti and Ybor's street-level change
Casa Marti's leasing site describes the project as a mixed-use gateway to Ybor City, with 127 apartment homes stacked above ground-floor retail. The development is part of a broader push to add more residents and daytime foot traffic along East Seventh Avenue, with an eye toward supporting daily-service businesses. Foxtail's plan to commission a custom mural with Cuban influences is one way the chain says it connects each shop to the surrounding neighborhood.
With its May 1 opening on the horizon, Foxtail is set to join a growing roster of cafés and restaurants reshaping Ybor's streetscape and to give Casa Marti residents a new local option for their morning coffee. For hours and additional details as the buildout wraps, keep an eye on Foxtail's website and the Casa Marti leasing page.
