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Downtown Palm Harbor Becoming Coffee Drinker's Paradise

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: April 12, 2008

PALM HARBOR, Fla. — In recent weeks, the number of cafes catering to coffee drinkers has tripled in the historic downtown along Florida and Nebraska avenues.

In a tough economic year for restaurants, each locally owned coffee shop has brewed up its own special niche and is depending on the area's already established full-service eateries to attract customers.

Dan Kauffman, owner of Old Town Cafe and Coffee House, 1019 Florida Ave., next to Thirsty Marlin Grill & Bar, says business has been good in his first few weeks.

Kauffman said his business has been bolstered, especially in the evening, by patrons from the Thirsty Marlin and Peggy O'Neil's Irish Pub & Eatery, 1026 Florida Ave., stopping by for his specialty coffee drinks and desserts.

Open from 7 a.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Old Town Cafe has a wide array of breakfast Cubans, burritos and bagels along with salads, paninis and Cubans sandwiches.

He worked hard to secure the right to sell Baby's Coffee, a special blend only sold in Key West and Miami, Kaufman said. Baby's Coffee is based in Key West.

Kaufman's cafe offers a wide variety of coffee selections, an array of 40 wines and 25 specialty beers from smaller microbreweries.

Kauffman, who eyed the Florida Avenue location for more than a year, said he thinks it's good that several coffee shops are now operating in one area. This brings in coffee drinkers who will want to sample what each cafe offers, he said.

A few blocks away, on Nebraska Avenue, Jim Zimmers relocated his Perks Coffee, feature whole bean coffees roasted in Ybor City, espressos and desserts.

Zimmers moved his cafe from the Key West Shops, on Alderman Road and Alt 19, where it was located the last two-and-a-half years. The downtown district offers much better visibility, he said.

Being part of a quaint downtown is much more what he was looking for, he said.

Perks, is open from morning, offering breakfast sandwiches and pastries, until evening for those looking for fine coffee drinks roasted in Tampa's famed Latin Quarter.

His loyal breakfast customers have all migrated to downtown Palm Harbor from the Alderman Road site, Zimmers said. Now, he is attracting many new regulars who love his desserts like brownies, blueberry scones, key lime pie, apple turnovers, carrot cake and more.

Perks Coffee has a meeting room where he can cater to small groups.

On the opposite side of Florida Avenue, near Omaha Circle, the Witch's Brew had been the area's only coffee shop for many months.

Denise Karnes welcomes the competition, noting everyone has their own special niche to fill.

"We are the only coffee shop with witches," she said of her cafe inspired by the movies such as: "The Wizard of Oz," "Bell, Book and Candle" and television shows such as "Bewitched."

She offers specialty ice creams made by Old Meeting House Ice Cream in Tampa, along with coffees, specially-themed beverages, energy drinks, beer and wine and lunch sandwiches.

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