Nectar Lab Expanding to Fort Lauderdale

Nectar Lab, a growing chain of upscale kava bars known for their botanical drinks and Miami-inspired ambiance, is opening at 540 N Andrews Ave, Suite 101, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, this August. Business Debut first saw the info in the Sun Sentinel.

The Nectar Lab’s vibe blends elements of a modern coffeehouse and stylish lounge. Its hybrid seating model includes bar stools, lounge areas, and work-friendly features for laptop users. The space is designed to transition throughout the course of a day, bright and functional during the daytime, with adjustable neon lighting and lounge energy by night.

Nectar Lab’s Fort Lauderdale location will operate daily from around 8 or 9 am–2 am, aiming to be open 365 days a year, even on holidays, depending on staff availability. 

The beverage menu centers around customizable botanical drinks, including kava from Fiji, Damiana, and Blue Lotus from Southeast Asia. “It's almost like a Chipotle or Moe's model, but for drinks where they can pick and choose the botanicals that they'd like to put in their drinks,” Gendron explained. All ingredients are lab-tested for safety and potency.

The brand operates with a licensing model, founder Drew Gendron told Business Debut. While Nectar Lab provides the foundational business framework, licensed partners are encouraged to add local flair. “When you're going between our own Nectar Labs stores, every single one has a different vibe, a different slightly different layout, but they all incorporate the same elements and the same drinks and same engines,” said Gendron. “It's not cookie-cutter where you're going into the same exact kava bar.”

The Fort Lauderdale location will be the brand’s third location and first on the east coast of South Florida. Donald and Matt Eklund, both Naples natives, will operate it, and they also operate a licensed store in Fort Myers.

Gendron initially founded the business before the pandemic in February 2020.

Stay tuned to Nectar Lab’s Fort Lauderdale location official channels for updates! In the meantime, you can visit Nectar Lab’s official website for updates.