New Cafe Opening in Downtown Bradenton

This article was originally published in the HeraldTribune on August 25th, 2021 by Jimmy Geurts.
Image by Wade Tatangelo. Click here to read the full article on the Herald’s website.

The new business in the former Tellers space will feature a walk-up window and serve Mediterranean-inspired cuisine and coffee.

A walk-up window in downtown Bradenton, formerly the site of a coffee shop, will soon be home to a new business also serving java, as well as Mediterranean-inspired cuisine.

Kefi Streetside Cafe is set to open at 1201 Sixth Ave. W. in a former Bank of America branch, which also served as the past location of Tellers until the coffee shop and vegan eatery announced its closure in June 2020. The new business hopes to debut this fall.

Eleni Sokos, whose family owns and operates the long-running Demetrios' Pizza House in Bradenton, will co-own Kefi Streetside Cafe with Jason Simpson. Sokos said the cafe will offer a grab-and-go-friendly selection of breakfast and lunch items with Greek culinary influences.

“The opportunity kind of fell in our lap," said Sokos about taking over the former Tellers space. "I was just thinking about potential locations for a nimble space, where we could operate quickly, lightly, efficiently, as far as the restaurant operations go." 

Planned breakfast offerings include Greek yogurt parfait, avocado toast and breakfast burritos, with the cafe also working with Bradenton's Sweets Bakehouse to develop a selection of pastries with Greek flavors. For lunch, it plans to serve bowls, salads and wraps including the Original Greek or Spicy Koukla with corn and spicy feta. Meat will be cooked sous vide, with vegan options planned as well.

Kefi Streetside Cafe will sell Buddy Brew Coffee, which is based in Tampa and has a downtown Sarasota storefront, with additional beverage options such as iced teas. Though Sokos said they likely won't offer alcohol when they first open, it could be added in the future.

The cafe will make grab-and-go business its focus, with plans to offer an online ordering  system. There will be no indoor seating, though Sokos said they hope to have some covered outdoor seats.

For more information, visit kefistreetsidecafe.com.

Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.