Cafe Riviera Opening in St. Pete Beach

ST. PETE BEACH, FL — Cafe Riviera is targeting an opening in the first week of May at 116 8th Ave., St. Pete Beach, FL 33706, pending final health inspection approval, Veronica Afonzo told Business Debut.

Afonzo is opening the café with her sister, Rosa Dennis, as the pair launch what Afonzo described as their first restaurant and family business together.

What to Expect

Cafe Riviera is designed around a French Riviera-inspired beach café concept with full service and about 20 seats, Afonzo told Business Debut.

The former Paradise To Go space is being converted from a takeout-only operation into a sit-down café with friendly service and an open-concept kitchen where guests will be able to watch the chef prepare crepes and sandwiches.

The menu is expected to include savory and sweet crepes, salads, cold and pressed paninis, sandwiches, pastries and a bakery selection with items such as croissants and salmon croissants, Afonzo told Business Debut. She said the team is also planning a coffee program in partnership with Kawa Coffee.

Menu and Vision

Among the menu items Afonzo highlighted are a savory crepe with salmon, honey and goat cheese, as well as sweet crepes with Nutella, which she called a favorite, Afonzo told Business Debut. She also said the café is testing a quiche made with shrimp, smoked salmon, pesto, spinach and goat cheese as part of its beach-oriented menu direction.

Afonzo said she spent seven years working in a French restaurant and previously helped open two locations for her former employers before deciding to open a business of her own. She said her sister handles the accounting and provider relationships while she oversees operations.

Opening Timeline

Cafe Riviera is aiming to open in early May, but the final date depends on the completion of health inspection and licensing steps, Afonzo told Business Debut. She said beer and wine service could come later after the food license is in place, with tapas and expanded hours as a future goal.

Hours

The café plans to operate seven days a week, opening at 7:30 a.m. and closing around 4 or 5 p.m., Afonzo told Business Debut. She said those hours could expand later depending on traffic and future licensing.

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