A new mind-bending café is coming soon to the Grand Central District in downtown St. Petersburg. As you cross the threshold at 2105 Central Avenue, you’ll leave behind the 3D world and step into a two dimensional black and white illustration.

The way the café is decorated will leave you feeling like you’ve been transported into a monochromatic drawing. The illusion is accomplished by covering every inch of the café, from the floor to the ceiling, in white paint with hand-drawn outlines on certain corners and edges. The café is being designed by local artist Chad Mize.

But The 2D Café won’t just be an art experience. It’ll also offer a full menu of global cuisine with an emphasis on European specialties.

“The culinary experience in St. Pete is amazing and it’s only getting better,” said owner Maria Merello, who owns The 2D Café with her wife Maria Kyriakidou. “We want to have that unique quality that sets us apart from everybody else. The 2D Café will be as much of an experience as it is a café.”

The storefront was formerly home to Swah-Rey, a dessert café, which abruptly closed all three of their popular St. Pete locations in November. Jenna Malowany of KW Commercial represented The 2D Café and the landlord in the new lease transaction.

In today’s world, where social media profiles are being included on resumes, your online presence is as important as ever. And 2D Café will be the perfect venue to snap your next Instagram post or film your next TikTok video.

The only color in the café will come from the food and the customer, which creates a beautiful juxtaposition with the black and white décor. It also plays into The 2D Café’s slogan – “Be the art.”

The first 2D restaurant opened around five years ago in Asia but the trend has been sweeping the rest of the world by storm recently.

Merello and her wife first heard of the concept from an article in Forbes. They’ve tapped Alex Campbell to manage the café.

“Originally, we were looking to open The 2D Café in Orlando, but we love the community in St. Pete,” said Merello. “It feels like a family. And my kids are amazed that you don’t have to get in the car to go somewhere else.”

Merello grew up in Uruguay born to an Italian father and Spanish mother. She left Uruguay bound for New York City when she was 25 and stayed for ten years before migrating south to Florida. Her and her wife have lived in Clearwater for the past few years.

“I grew up in an Italian family that loved food. My parents have owned bakeries and restaurants, so food has always been part of me,” said Merello.

In the morning, fresh pastries and breads will be available. For lunch, a selection of salads and paninis will be offered in addition to small bites like avocado toast, goat cheese and mushroom toast, empanadas, and pan con tomate. At night, look for baked bries, Greek spinach and cheese pies, charcuterie boards, and much more.

“We will also offer a Uruguayan ham and cheese sandwich that you can have cold or hot,” said Merello. “It isn’t European but it’s part of me. We want to reflect ourselves and our culture in the café as well.”

Vegetarian-friendly and gluten-free options will also be available.

As for beverages, The 2D Café has partnered with Dancing Goats Coffee to offer drip and espresso-based drinks. Best of all, the coffee will be available until the café closes at 11pm.

A selection of beer and wine will be offered as well.

Prior to The 2D Café, Merello worked a corporate job as a compliance officer for a financial institution. Although it had nothing to do with food, it taught her a great deal about business.

If all goes well, Maria and her wife would love to replicate the concept in other cities. St. Pete will always be home, but the concept would do well in cities like New York, Las Vegas, and Miami.

“The art at The 2D Café can be catered to the location. If we open a café in Las Vegas, it could be casino-themed with 2D slot machines,” said General Manager Alex Campbell.

The 2D Café is currently under construction at 2105 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District. If all goes as planned, you’ll be able to step into The 2D Café’s black and white cartoon world around mid-February to beginning of March. Once open, hours of operation will be 8 am to 11 pm seven days a week.

Be sure to follow The 2D Café on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date on grand opening plans and the latest food specials.