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Café opens at ARK Innovation Center
Point Chaud Coffee & Crepes joins locations in Washington D.C. and Maryland.
St. Petersburg’s newest café has opened right in the heart of the city’s Innovation District.
Point Chaud Coffee & Crepes first started to welcome customers at the ARK Innovation Center Sept. 17.
For Point Chaud partner Mourad Kacimi, bringing the concept to the Florida market is an investment in Pinellas County. The company already has locations in Washington D.C. and Maryland.
He moved to the area in 2021 and decided to expand the business locally.
The Innovation Center (1101 4th Street S.) is near the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus. This was a factor in the selection process, Kacimi said.
One of the company’s other locations is at the George Washington University campus in Washington D.C. “We always like to be around colleges because they are a big part of our clientele.”
The surrounding neighborhood was also appealing, he added. “It’s an up-and-coming area and we want to grow with it.”
The opening of the café comes after more than a year of delay. Point Chaud first announced its lease deal in June 2023, and the ARK Innovation Center opened in January 2024.
He attributed the delay in part to the 2024 hurricane season.
The ARK facility is operated by tech incubator and accelerator Tampa Bay Innovation Center, which is based at the property.
Point Chaud is “such a great amenity and addition because one of the things that we are building here is a vibrant hub where innovation, culture and community can meet,” said organization president and CEO Rebecca Brown.
“So, to have a physical café where people can chat and discuss and brainstorm over coffee or lunch is just the completion of the physical space that we’re establishing here for our community.”
Another Point Chaud location in St. Pete Beach will open in late October or early November, Kacimi added.
Point Chaud Coffee & Crepes website
