This seating area at Atomic cat cafe is inspired by retro, 1970s-era decor | st. pete rising

A vintage furniture dealer is expanding her footprint in north St. Pete with the opening of Atomic Cat Cafe, a retro-inspired coffee shop filled with antiques and collectibles from her personal collection.

Atomic Cat Cafe opens today at 10387 Gandy Boulevard North, in the same plaza as owner Ingrid Bridges' other two businesses, furniture store IM Vintage and thrift shop Ingrid's.

Bridges, who grew up in St. Petersburg, opened a storefront for her mid-century modern furniture business in the Gandy plaza in 2020 with the help of her husband and two children.

In 2024, she launched a vintage shop on the other side of the plaza.

As more furniture sales shifted online, Bridges recently decided to relocate IM Vintage to a smaller space within the plaza and transform its former 2,500-square-foot storefront into a coffee shop.

Atomic cat cafe is located at 10387 Gandy Boulevard North, unit 102 | st. pete rising

“I technically didn't need this big of a space for furniture and the girls that worked at Ingrid’s kept telling me how awesome it would be if I opened a coffee shop in the plaza, since thrifting and coffee go hand in hand,” Bridges said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

“The girls told me they wanted a coffee shop that didn’t feel so sterile, somewhere where they could relax and be with their friends,” she added.

Bridges and her family have spent the past year building out the cafe and are now ready to welcome their first customers.

With beans sourced from Tampa-based roaster Wuz Here and fresh sourdough products from a local baker, Atomic Cat Cafe combines a customizable coffee menu with a vintage-inspired setting.

The cafe was furnished using inventory from Im Vintage and pieces from Bridges' personal collection.

‍ ‍Atomic cat cafe sells a variety of espresso-based drinks, matcha, chai, and more | Navedo Productions

The cafe features two distinct spaces. One side is designed around a retro 1970s theme with bright colors and patterns, intended for conversation and spinning vinyl records.

The other offers a darker, more studious atmosphere with leather seating and Victorian-style decor.

Charging ports, cables and free Wi-Fi are available throughout the cafe, encouraging customers take their time and not rush out the door.

The menu includes espresso-based beverages, drip coffee, cold brew, matcha, chai, teas, and dirty sodas.

Specialty lattes include the Arista-Cat Latte, made with brown sugar, housemade bourbon syrup, and orange cold foam; and the Cheshire Cat, flavored with rose syrup, cardamom syrup, and vanilla syrup.

The vintage-decorated cafe offers a variety of seating areas and work spaces | st pete rising

Atomic Cat's food offerings currently include bagels, muffins and pastries, along with grab-and-go snacks and other prepared items.

Bridges said she also plans to host creative workshops, book clubs, and other laid-back community events at the cafe.

The coffee shop's name is inspired by the elongated, geometric cats that were a popular motif in mid-century modern decor, helping connect the new cafe to Bridges' other businesses.

Several decorative pieces throughout Atomic Cat are available for purchase, along with branded merchandise repurposed from secondhand clothing.

Despite now operating three businesses within the plaza, Bridges said she still has additional plans for the property.

“It is kind of cool to be able to slowly get things going in this area, and it’s really worked out for us so far,” she added.

Atomic Cat Cafe will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, and closed Mondays.