Southie Coffee recently moved into a new, larger space in Seminole | Southie COffee

A new speakeasy and lounge is getting ready to open out of a popular, locally owned coffee shop in Seminole.

Seminole residents Bella Rincon and Steven Gonzalez opened the first location of Southie Coffee in Clearwater in 2018, with a second location debuting a year later in Seminole.

Last month, its Seminole shop moved to a larger, 2,000-square-foot space in the same plaza at 13017 Park Boulevard.

The relocation not only provides customers with a larger café, but also allows the business to expand its menu and operating hours.

In the evenings, the space will transition into an entirely different concept called The Hideout, a stylish, low-lit speakeasy.

Owners of Southie Coffee, Seminole residents Bella Rincon and Steven Gonzalez

While Rincon and Gonzalez are both owners of Southie Coffee, The Hideout is Rincon’s project alone.

"Honestly, I feel like the community pushed us to grow; we grew out of the original space and out of the original concept. I think I really wanted Southie to become something more," Rincon said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

"Right now, we only cater to the morning people with breakfast and coffee, but with beer and wine at night, the speakeasy is going to offer a completely different vibe."

During the day, the cafe offers a bright, airy ambiance with greenery and natural light, but will transform into a moody, candlelit lounge with live music in the evenings.

Rincon says The Hideout's aesthetic was partially inspired by popular St. Pete concepts Bar Chica and In Between Days, the latter of which recently received a recommendation from the Michelin Guide.

The new Southie Coffee is four times the size of the former location | Southie Coffee

The Hideout will feature a curated list of craft beers, South American wines, and fruity, wine-based cocktails.

A selection of Latin-inspired small plates like tacos and empanadas will also be offered, in an effort to honor Rincon's Venezuelan heritage and "bring a little bit of home back here."

Since the new Southie Coffee space is four times larger than its previous location, its expanded kitchen will also allow the cafe menu to grow.

New items like breakfast burritos and avocado toast are expected to be added later this month, with a full-service weekend brunch to follow.

The coffee shop sells a variety of espresso- and matcha-based drinks in addition to loose-leaf teas from TeBella. The cafe also roasts its own coffee, sourcing beans from small farms in Colombia and elsewhere in South America.

During the day, Southie Coffee offers a bright, airy ambiance with greenery and natural light, but will transform into a moody, candlelit lounge with live music in the evenings | Southie Coffee

Once The Hideout opens, Rincon plans to operate Southie Coffee from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., close for an hour, and then reopen the space as a speakeasy from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The Hideout may be closed on Sundays and Mondays during its soft opening phase, but cafe will remain open seven days a week.

In addition to operating two cafes and the soon-to-open speakeasy, Rincon stays active in the local community by hosting fundraisers and collaborating with other small businesses.

"I'd like people to know that we're not just another coffee shop. We're super involved with the community and our school system," Rincon said, adding that the coffee shop recently helped fundraise a scholarship for a Seminole High School senior. "I feel like that involvement in the community sets us apart from other cafes a little bit."

Follow The Hideout on Instagram for the latest updates on its soft opening this summer.