Showing posts with label Coffee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Coffee. Show all posts
Monday, September 30, 2013
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Baristas in bikinis; Kahwa coffee perks up downtown Tampa; Mojitos' lively Latin menu
By Amy Scherzer, Times Staff Writer
Amy ScherzerTampa Bay Times In Print: Friday, January 13, 2012
GANDY — Coffee, tea — and, uh, cleavage?
The sexy servers at Baristas Coffee Co. are often called Hooters girls on caffeine by customers driving up to the espresso stands for a jolt of java.
"We employ extremely attractive females who wear alluring, sexy costumes,'' said Barry Henthorn, CEO of the publicly-traded Baristas, naming French maid, sailor girl, pirate, angel and devil as some examples.
"That's no regulation uniform that 'policewoman' wears,'' he said. And not much is camouflaged on Military Mondays, the day servicemen and women get a discount on the specialty coffees.
On Jan. 23, the eighth location, and the first in Florida, opens on Gandy Boulevard at Himes Avenue. Not coincidentally, it shares the Publix parking lot with Starbucks.
"We found we do very well when we go head to head with Starbucks,'' Henthorn said. "We have an incredibly high-quality product." Light breakfast fare, muffins and such, are sold as well as beverages. The first Baristas opened in Seattle in October 2009 and Henthorn has expectations of 50 more this year.
Besides hiring young women and peddling franchises, Henthorn is helping to cast a reality show based on the drama-filled lives of the employees as they vie for top shifts.
"These girls make exceptionally good money. Tips can add up to thousands a week,'' he said. "The competition is tough. There's a lot of cattiness."
He said he couldn't identify the cable network that will carry the show being produced by award-winning M & M Productions. Casting will take place in Tampa on Jan. 30; shooting begins the next week.
Despite the baristas' apparel (or lack thereof), Henthorn says the shop is appropriate for all.
"We want to make things comfortable, so you can drive up with your kids,'' he said. "Not everybody is, but it's nothing you wouldn't see on cheerleaders on NFL Sunday."
Baristas, 3601 W Gandy Blvd., will open from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Kahwa has new place to sit, sip and chat
Kahwa Coffee offers a much less risque caffeine fix in its newest location, which opened Jan. 9 in "Rivergate Tower." (Owner Raphael Perrier would rather you not refer to his third cafe as being inside the Beer Can building.)
"We call it the Cube atrium,'' said Perrier, listing a variety of locally roasted coffee blends, prepared as cappuccino, espresso, latte and more, along with French pastries, croissants and baguettes. At lunch time, the menu expands to sandwiches, salads and quiche.
Perrier and his wife, Sarah, also run two popular Kahwa coffee shops in downtown St. Petersburg. In February, they will open their fourth, an espresso bar, in downtown Tampa's Element condominium at 808 N Franklin St.
Kahwa Coffee Espresso Bar and Cafe, 400 N Ashley Drive, is open from 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Visit kahwacoffee.com or call (813) 225-2040.
Mojito eatery, lounge opens in Crowne Plaza
A New Year's Eve grand opening launched Mojito restaurant and lounge on Kennedy Boulevard in the West Shore area.
"You don't feel like you're in a hotel at all,'' says Sharon Haley, director of sales and marketing, describing the menu as "edgy, Havana-style." Mojitos, of course, come in many flavors.
Tapas dishes include deep fried lobster tail served with papaya, flank steak turnovers, pulled chicken and cheese tostones and jumbo lump crab cake with housemade mango salsa.
For now, dinner only is served, but a lunch menu and hours are coming in February.
Mojito is in the Crowne Plaza Tampa Westshore Hotel, 5303 W Kennedy Blvd. Hours are 4 p.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday; 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday; noon to 1 a.m. Saturday; and noon to midnight Sunday. Visit cptampawestshore.com/tampa-dining.php or call (813) 289-1950 for more information.
Share new business news with Amy Scherzer at ascherzer@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3332.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Hot and Steamy Coffee Meets Sensuality and Sassiness at Java Girls Orlando
Orlando, Florida (PRWEB) January 11, 2012
Java Girls, a fast-growing national coffee shop franchise featuring attractive baristas wearing nothing more than bikinis and lingerie, has opened its newest location in Central Florida and customers are lining up for coffee and specialty espresso drinks served by scantily-clad workers.
The Java Girls franchise takes the widely-successful local coffee house business concept and gives it a risqué twist where its baristas grind, brew and serve a variety of coffee drinks ranging from the traditional “cup of Joe” to the more elaborated cappuccino and espresso-based drinks.
Since opening its doors in November 2011, Java Girls Orlando has been delighting customers with not just coffee, but an assortment of breakfast and lunch sandwiches that offer customers a convenient hot spot for getting their coffee fix and a quick bite on their way to work.
Java Girls’ marketing antics include themed days, when baristas wear bikinis on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays; lingerie on Tuesdays and Thursdays; and then there’s Fantasy Fridays, when the girls wear sexy costumes—such as police girl or French maid outfits.
Many people drive by the uniquely decorated free-standing building painted in brick red with white wraparound awnings, staring as the bikini-clad baristas prepare the hot specialty coffee to a constant stream of customers.
“Java Girls makes me think of Starbucks-meets-Hooters”, says a customer who requested to remain anonymous. “I came in because I was curious about a coffee shop with girls in bikinis, but I was pleased to learn they have really good coffee and friendly service”.
Coffee at Java Girls Orlando is serious business and the company is committed to offering organic-grown coffee that is ground on-location for added freshness and taste, which is always a pleasant surprise for the shop’s skeptical customers.
While the concept is risqué and daring, Java Girls’ coffee shop is being noticed by locals who drive by its Lee Road location—and as its clientele grows, so do the profits for this titillatingly-themed business that has been curiously dubbed as a “sex-presso” bar.
The new Java Girls Orlando is located at 910 Lee Road in Orlando and its franchisor is working on opening a new location near the University of Central Florida looking to daze and serve coffee to college students and local residents.
ABOUT JAVA GIRLS ORLANDO
Java Girls Orlando is an independently-owned and operated franchise unit of Java Girls, Inc. This unique business concept offers a sensual twist on the traditional coffee shop by featuring espresso baristas wearing bikinis and lingerie. Java Girls Orlando offers a complete coffee and espresso specialty drinks menu, along with breakfast sandwiches, lunch paninis and energy drinks—all while scantily-clad coffee shop workers welcome customers with their smiles and entertain their sights.
For more information about Java Girls Orlando, please visit http://www.javagirlsorlando.com.
FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT:
Todd Brognano
(772) 473-9162
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