Kahwa Coffee has officially moved into a new corporate headquarters.
The St. Petersburg-based company leased a 24,742-square-foot industrial property at 4001 35th Street N. It houses the business’s roasting operation, production space and corporate offices.
An announcement was made Wednesday by professional services and investment management organization Colliers. Kahwa team members began to utilize the facility in May.
For nearly a decade, Kahwa Coffee operated out of a 14,000-square-foot space at 3070 44th Avenue N.
“I think it’s the next step for us as a company to keep on expanding,” Kahwa Coffee co-founder Raphael Perrier told the Catalyst. “We want to create coffee classes and barista classes. We have the space now to do that. We also have 10,000 more square feet to keep on growing.”
Kahwa Coffee Roasting Company co-founders Raphael and Sarah Perrier.
Perrier explained that the project required significant renovations. A separation wall between the production and office areas was constructed. Perrier and his team installed new flooring and additional roll-up doors. Additionally, they repainted the facility.
A training center was created as well. It features a replica café to help educate employees. Perrier said that the coffee and barista classes are expected to launch in September or October.
The facility, which was once a post office, is located in the Petersburg Commerce Center, a three-building industrial and manufacturing park. The landlord, Legacy Capital Partners, is a private equity real estate investment firm.
Perrier added that Kahwa Coffee was looking for a new space for about a year. He is trying to acquire the property. The team is currently exploring financing options.
“I think that it’s a great move in that it’s going to be our forever home,” Perrier said. “We’ll never have to move again, I think.”
With the expanded space, employees have larger quarters. Perrier and his wife, co-founder Sarah Perrier, have their own offices as well. He believes that “it has been a positive thing for everyone.”
Colliers senior associate Dominic Hewitt represented Legacy Capital Partners in the lease transaction. David M. Kramer of Pridgen Realty represented Kahwa Coffee.
“Kahwa’s expansion is a great example of a Tampa Bay brand investing in its long-term growth,” Hewitt said in a prepared statement. “Right now, we’re seeing continued demand for industrial space from local and regional operators – especially distribution and production users.”
Roasting equipment inside the new facility.
Perrier added Kahwa Coffee is planning an official grand opening this fall. The transition period was far from easy.
“It was a challenge to be honest,” he said. “It’s not easy to move to a new facility when you keep running production at the old facility.”
In 2006, the Perriers launched Kahwa Coffee. It has become the largest independent coffee roaster in the state. The organization has more than 15 standalone shops in Florida and Texas. The Perrier family and their team also work with wholesale partners, including grocery stores, restaurants and hotels. Currently, they serve over 1,000 accounts.
In June, Kahwa Coffee opened its newest franchise location in Palm Harbor. Franchisees Chris and Pita Deneault were the first to sign an agreement with the company in October 2022.