Melissa Donovan
The Downtown Arts District will celebrate the grand opening of CityArts Café on Wednesday, November 12, introducing a new spot in the heart of downtown Orlando for coffee, pastries, and a moment of pause amid the city’s arts scene. Doors open at 8 a.m., followed by a ribbon cutting and remarks at 11 a.m. The event will also feature free coffee tastings, art activations, live music, and giveaways.
The new café, located beside CityArts Orlando in the historic Rogers Kiene Building, is designed to blend hospitality with the district’s creative mission. Spanning 530 square feet, the space will serve Lavazza espresso drinks, drip coffee, teas, tisanes, soft drinks, and pastries freshly baked by Olde Hearth Bakery. Partial proceeds will directly support local artists, aligning with the Downtown Arts District’s ongoing efforts to invest in and uplift Orlando’s cultural community.
Barbara Hartley, Downtown Arts District Executive Director, said in a press release that the vision for the café is rooted in both community and heritage.
“CityArts Café isn’t just about coffee, it’s about creating a space to enjoy and support the local arts community.” Hartley also said the menu pays homage to the building’s European background, explaining, “The vision and menu are inspired by the legacy of the Rogers-Kienes building and its European heritage. We will proudly serve Lavazza, Italy’s largest and most celebrated coffee roaster and a long-standing supporter of the arts. Our bakery selection features classic French patisserie and British tearoom favorites from local purveyor Olde Hearth Bakery. We are thrilled to celebrate the official grand opening of the café — a welcome addition to all our programming — and we invite everyone to join us. We have no doubt visitors of our beautiful galleries and amazing events will absolutely love it.”
The café will also spotlight rotating artwork from the Downtown Arts District’s 3rd Thursday exhibitions, creating an environment where visitors can enjoy their coffee while engaging with local art. This concept reflects the organization’s broader mission, which Chairman of the Board Daniel Betancourt said the café directly supports.
“CityArts Café is reopening as an extension of the Downtown Arts District, supporting our mission to cultivate a vibrant creative community in the heart of Orlando,” Betancourt said. “”A portion of proceeds will directly benefit local artists and arts programming. Through this café, we continue to enhance the vibrancy, accessibility and economic growth of the district by presenting outstanding visual and performing arts, producing dynamic public art experiences and providing meaningful professional development for artists.”
CityArts Café is located at 37 S. Magnolia Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801, and will operate Tuesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information, visit www.cityartscafe.com and https://downtownartsdistrict.com/.
Comments