Café Zoe Carving Out a Niche Among Local Coffeehouses

The first thing you might think when you walk into Café Zoe is that it doesn’t resemble your typical coffee shop, with Marilyn Monroe pictures everywhere and a drum set in the back. 

The last thing you’d think is that it’s run by an IT guy. 

But that’s exactly the case with the eclectic coffeehouse located in the Walsingham Village Plaza, which came into existence thanks to owner Larry Bell’s busy tech business next door. 

“I had a computer business in Seminole for 12 years, and I'm an IT guy for over 30 companies, so I have a lot of walk-in clients at my business (Belltech Computer Solutions),” the 33-year-old Bell explains. 

“Sometimes I have really long lines out the door, and people always wanted coffee while they waited. So in January, when the space next door became available, I took it over.” 

What began as an overflow waiting area with coffee and WiFi has morphed into a sort of modern day meeting place, complete with beer & wine, arts and entertainment and one very adorable child — Bell’s 21-month-old daughter, Zoe. 

“When I found out I was having Zoe, it was a big life change for me,” Bell recalls. “I wanted to be able to have her around as much as possible ... so I didn’t want this to be a typical bar atmosphere.

“I wanted it to be Zoe-friendly.” 

To make sure patrons don’t mistake his place for a gin joint, Bell doesn’t emphasize the fact that he serves alcohol on site. 

Instead, he prefers to put the focus on his local coffee, the soups, salads and sandwiches on the menu, and the fact that Café Zoe is a fun place for people to come and hang out. 

Weekly wine tastings have quickly become popular events, there are musical instruments in the back for people to use, and Bell plans to add poetry readings, art shows, plays and possibly movie and game nights. 

“I love to play music, so I wanted music to be a part of it. I’m into art, so I wanted to include art,” he said.

“I want this place to be home for Largo’s creative crowd, a gathering place where people can come and enjoy themselves.” 

Having expanded the space twice in the six months it’s been open, and with a steady stream of suggestions and ideas coming in from friends, family and customers, Bell isn’t sure where this new business will take him next. 

But he’s happy to wait it out and see what the future holds. 

“I’d like to get this place established and know what it’s really like before I force it to be something it’s not,” he said. 

“It’s not a computer shop. Computers are cut and dried. This isn’t."

Café Zoe

Address: 14219 Walsingham Rd., Suite R

Phone: 727-595-5000

Hours: Mon - Fri, 7am - 6pm; Sat, 9am - 2pm; Sun, closed