Belleair Coffee Company has operated a cafe in Belleair Bluffs for ten years | Belleair Coffee Company

Belleair Coffee Company will replace The Blend’s former flagship cafe in the Old Northeast this fall.

The local coffee company, which has operated in Belleair Bluffs for ten years, is opening its third location at 1211 4th Street North, where it will serve house-roasted specialty coffee, baked goods, breakfast and lunch items, beer, and wine.

“I couldn't be more excited for this because that neighborhood is amazing,” co-owner Chris Whalen said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “I feel like they’re going to appreciate the kind of thing we're trying to do, which is an elevated coffee experience in a really comfortable atmosphere.”

Whalen said his team took over the 2,500-square-foot cafe this past Saturday and is targeting an early October opening after some cosmetic upgrades.

The Blend announced the closure of its 4th Street North location last week after six years in business, citing an effort to consolidate operations amid its ongoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy case.

Owners of Belleair Coffee Company Chris Whalen (left) and Cammie Griffin (Right) with chef Russell Scott | Belleair Coffee Company

“I have to give props to The Blend because they did a very nice buildout on this location,” Whalen said.

Belleair Coffee Company roasts its own specialty coffee in-house at their Belleair Bluffs location.

The company sources single-origin beans from countries including Colombia, Ethiopia and Nicaragua, with an emphasis on medium roasts designed to produce a smooth, balanced cup.

“If you're roasting the beans correctly, you're not going to need a lot of sugar and artificial sweeteners to sweeten it up,” Whalen said. “But we also like to be creative and run specials like our Lucky Charms latte. Those can be a lot of fun as well.”

Seasonal drinks rotate throughout the year. Current offerings include a Peach Cobbler Latte with peach syrup, white mocha, vanilla and cinnamon.

The food menu will feature baked goods such as donuts, cookies, muffins and croissants, plus breakfast sandwiches, quiche and salads.

Belleair Coffee offers Seasonal drinks that rotate throughout the year | Belleair Coffee Company

The new cafe will host weekend live music, open mic nights, trivia and coffee education events.

Whalen and his wife, Cammie, opened their first cafe in 2016 at 100 Indian Rocks Road North in Belleair Bluffs.

Last year, they purchased Largo’s former Olde Florida Brewing building at 1158 7th Street Northwest for their second location. The larger cafe added beer, wine, live music and a slightly more social tap-house atmosphere.

The couple is also exploring future expansion in Tampa, but Whalen said they are focused on growing thoughtfully.

“We love being able to represent our Belleair community,” Whalen said. “Having these strong regional ties is a part of what makes our company authentic. It's hard to grow at scale, but we've been trying to do it by not biting off more than we can chew.”

The Old Northeast cafe is expected to be open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. once it debuts in October.

Be sure to follow Belleair Coffee Company on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on the latest offerings and grand opening plans.