At the far southwest corner of USF St. Pete’s campus at 1055 4th Street South, stands a light grey, unassuming building that will soon be renovated into the St. Pete Community Oasis. The Oasis will introduce a shared space business model led by Community Café who used to call Central Avenue home. With an anticipated April 2021 opening, the concept will be an exceptional addition to south St. Pete along with other businesses migrating to the area as well.

St. Pete natives who were frequent customers to the Community Café’s old location at 2444 Central Avenue, which will soon be home to Valkyrie Doughnuts, owned by Celine Duvoisin of Valhalla Bakery, will remember its cozy vibes, vegan-friendly food options, comfortable workspace, community events and most of all, a sense of unconditional acceptance. The good news is, these will still be the foundation for the Community Oasis, but even better is what’s being added.

Two other local organizations, Halelife Bakery and Invision Café, have officially signed on as partners in the Oasis. There is also space for two other food vendors and a small retail room for pop-ups, but the specific businesses who will fill these vacant spots have yet to be determined.

Halelife Bakery offers 45+ gluten-free and vegan baked goods that are also dairy, egg, soy, peanut, and tree nut free (excluding coconut). With the chocolate bourbon caramel crunch donut, strawberries and champagne cupcake, the veggie flatbread, and more tantalizing goodies, there is sure be options for those who may struggle finding food that aligns with their specific dietary needs.

InVision Creative Café has claimed its second home at this south St. Pete location where they will offer their signature handcrafted espresso drinks, locally sourced organic coffee, kava, ethnobotanical teas, kombucha, and an assortment of pastries and bagels.

With the food hall concept continuing to spring up in the Tampa Bay area, St. Pete Community Oasis is putting their own personal spin on it. Community Café Owner Mandy Keyes calls it “a food hall in your living room.” This laid-back approach welcomes comfy couches in the public seating area for those coming in to chat, play board games or grab a quick lunch while scrolling through their social media. 

Although it is a shared space, the heart and soul of Community Café will still be at the center. Their full lunch and dinner menu will offer vegan-friendly food that includes delicious sandwiches, wraps, salads and snacks. Coffee, tea, beer, and wine will also be on the menu as well. And since the Oasis will stay open until midnight every day, a hangout option will be provided for those who may want to avoid the bar scene while still having fun with friends.

An even more exciting addition to this space is found tucked away in the back corner of the Oasis that is dedicated to art, music, and other creative expressions. Equipped with a stage and space for seating, it can serve as both a public and private space. While the specific events are still up in the air, expect open mic nights, LGBTQ+ events, art shows, and Drag Queen Story Hour, which is an old Community Café fan favorite.

During Community Café’s early days, the open, welcoming, and accepting environment became a favorite spot to many in the St. Pete area, specifically the LGBTQ+ community. When the location on Central Avenue could no longer service the number of daily visitors, Mandy was looking to expand. However, her expansion plans were thrown into jeopardy when she received a notice from her landlord stating that Community Café had 23 days to vacate their beloved space.

The news was not ideal, but Mandy knew that this would be a blessing in disguise, and it has certainly proved itself to be as she prepares to open up a spot that is over twice the size of the first location. It also has a full parking lot, space for bike racks and a promising outdoor area in the back. And what started as a single-tenant concept has become a shared space that houses more local businesses that are dedicated to community empowerment.

As April quickly approaches, a trip to St. Pete Community Oasis can start in the morning with a coffee and delicious vegan treat from Halelife Bakery as you set up your laptop in the open seating areas. Take a lunch break with Community Café’s full vegan-friendly menu with some kava from InVision Creative Café to help sharpen your senses and focus. As dinner approaches, there are even more options for a full meal or vegan snacks while you move to the couch with an evening game night with friends. Laugh, chat and build relationships late into the evening until the clock strikes midnight. Then, arrange your plans to return in the morning to do it all over again at the Oasis – your Oasis – St. Pete’s Oasis.

The St. Pete Community Oasis is expected to open this April at 1055 4th Street South in the flourishing Southside area. Be sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram for more information about the grand opening and further plans for the location. If your local business would like to join the Oasis, please send an email to stpetecommunityoasis@gmail.com.