Kahwa Coffee Eyes Major Expansion

Is Kahwa Coffee Roasting the next Hooters or Outback Steakhouse?

TBO.com makes the comparison in an article headlined: "Kahwa Coffee Poised to Expand."

Owners Raphael and Sarah Perrier have ambitious growth plans for selling their locally roasted coffee beans and building their network of hip Kahwa Coffee shops.

The goals is to open 10 more coffee shops over the next year and a half, in addition to the five they have in St. Petersburg and Tampa now, TBO.com reports.

New sites under consideration include South Tampa, Westchase and cities in north Pinellas County.

Kahwa Coffee hopes to continue that growth in Orlando and across the country, similar to homegrown restaurants like Hooters and Outback, which grew way beyond their Florida roots, according to TBO.com.

In addition, the owners are expanding production and distribution of coffee beans, after moving their headquarters from 8th Avenue South to a larger warehouse at 3244 44th Ave. North, according to TBO.com.

According to TBO.com:

Despite the ambititious growth plans, the Perriers are pledging to maintain their "local credibility."

"The Perriers say the foundation of their expansion plans is maintaining local credibility as the Tampa Bay area's signature coffee company.

'As long as we're not everywhere in Tampa Bay, then there's no point going anywhere else,' said Raphael Perrier. 'You have to have your market base, that you're known here and you're the best.' "

Have you visited Kahwa? Here are some local shops in your neighborhood. 

• Kahwa Cafe, 204 2nd Ave. South;
• Kahwa Espresso Bar, 475 2nd St. North.

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