After four years of pouring Colombian coffee out of a trailer at private parties and public festivals, Danny and Lael Martinez have finally planted roots. Their brand, Mi Cafecito, opened a permanent storefront at 2202 W. Platt St. in Tampa's SoHo district, serving strong Colombian coffee, homemade arepas and other menu items Wednesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The move caps a run that saw Mi Cafecito work more than 400 events as a mobile pop-up and catering operation, according to Tampa Bay 28. The business also provided mobile corporate and event services, according to Mi Cafecito LLC. That stretch of mobile service preceded the Martinezes' move to a permanent storefront.
To help fund the buildout of the physical space, the couple turned to their community. In August, they launched a Kickstarter campaign seeking $12,000 for the storefront, per the crowdfunding page. It's the kind of grassroots financing move increasingly common among mobile food and beverage operators looking to make the leap to brick-and-mortar without taking on heavier debt.
Colombian Coffee and Homemade Arepas
The shop's menu includes Colombian coffee and homemade arepas. The coffee itself is sourced from Colombian farms, per Tampa Bay 28's reporting, and diners can also find homemade arepas alongside espresso drinks.
The finished space includes an indoor-outdoor layout with a streetside patio and a refurbished interior, per the same outlet. The building carries its own local history: the 3,600-square-foot commercial property has previously housed Deck Pizza and Pub, Po'Boys Creole Cafe's catering room, Antipasto restaurant and Ravioli Co., according to the Tampa Bay Times. The property listing provides additional details about the parcel and building, according to a LoopNet listing.
A Big Life Change Alongside the Business Milestone
The storefront opening arrives at a personal turning point for the Martinezes as well. Lael Martinez is expecting the couple's first child very soon, and she described the timing to Tampa Bay 28 by saying she feels like they're having two babies this fall.
Mi Cafecito's debut also reflects a wider shift happening across Tampa Bay's coffee scene. Hillsborough County's Tax Collector lists mobile-vendor and mobile-public-eating-establishment categories and licensing responsibilities, according to the Hillsborough County Tax Collector. Mi Cafecito spent years operating on wheels before opening a permanent storefront.
Part of a Regional Coffee Boom
Mi Cafecito isn't the only Tampa Bay mobile brand making that jump. St. Petersburg operators LX Coffee and Bean Wandering have also been part of that mobile-to-storefront story, with Bean Wandering opening two permanent St. Pete locations while its original truck still serves pop-ups and LX Coffee preparing its first storefront, Hoodline previously reported. Mi Cafecito joins other coffee businesses in the region.
That competitive backdrop makes SoHo an appealing but crowded target for new entrants. The district's dense, walkable character makes it an appealing target for new food-and-beverage investment. Mi Cafecito was open over Labor Day weekend before settling into its permanent Wednesday-through-Sunday hours.
