Owners of Bandit Coffee to open wine bar in the Grand Central District
/The wine bar craze shows no signs of abating as Spitz Wine Bar, a new concept founded by the owners of Bandit Coffee Co., announced that it has leased space at 2520 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District with plans to open sometime in the first half of 2024.
The space is currently home to Acupuncture & Herbal Therapies, which will be moving in February to 6340 Central Avenue and will share a space with Traditions School of Herbal Studies.
Spitz Wine Bar offered few details in an Instagram post, writing, “It’s official, y’all, we’ve signed a lease and have set a path to open early/mid next year within the Grand Central District. More details to come.” Its Instagram page says the bar will offer “real wines” and “tasty bites.”
Owners Joshua and Sarah Weaver debuted Bandit Coffee Co., located at 2662 Central Avenue, in 2016. In 2019, Bandit Coffee ventured into the alcoholic beverage market and started carrying beer and wine, with a focus of natural wines, so the Weavers’ decision to launch a wine bar isn’t surprising.
The St. Pete area has seen a spate of wine bars pop up recently. Last year, the The Study Wine & Beer Lounge opened at 3100 3rd Avenue North.
Calida Kitchen & Wine, meanwhile, opened at 2909 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street North, while Gulfport’s Backfin Blue Café was sold and redeveloped as The Wine House. They complement existing downtown establishments such as Lolita’s Wine Market, Dracula’s Legacy, CellarMasters Wine Bar & Bottle Shop, and MUST Wine Loft.
The Cork Room owner John Harr said it’s no coincidence that more wine bars are popping up in the Sunshine City.
“The generation that has been drinking cheaper beer and liquor is getting older,” he said last year in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “There’s that shift — people who were in their 20s now like the expensive bourbon and higher-end wine products. At least that's what I see because I seem to be that type of person.”
For more information and updates, follow Spitz Wine Bar on Instagram and follow Bandit Coffee on Instagram and Facebook.
