Davis Islands’ DI Coffee Bar opens second location in Seminole Heights

DI Coffee Bar is bringing its Davis Islands vibe to Seminole Heights.

The beloved café opened its second location at 6114 N Central Ave. earlier this week, taking over the former Cake Cuties Bakery space.

The shop opened quietly, but that didn’t stop locals from showing up.

“We didn’t push it. No soft opening, no grand opening — we just opened the doors,” owner Ramon Perez told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “And we did five times more business than I thought we would. It freaked me out.”

DI Coffee Bar opened its flagship store 11 years ago on 214 E Davis Blvd. and is known for its laid-back ambiance, vibrant community feel and strong Cuban influence.

Perez, a longtime Tampeño and Hillsborough High School alum, said the opportunity to open in Seminole Heights just down the street from his alma mater was both practical and personal.

“We’ve been passively looking for another location for about five years,” Perez said. “The bakery that was here before used to do baking for us. One day, I just asked her, ‘What about if I take it over from you?’ It already had a kitchen, which made opening so much easier.”

Perez spent part of his childhood in Seminole Heights and remembers getting his hair cut in the same building that now houses the new shop.

“I’m a big barrio guy,” he said. “I love the neighborhood feel, and that’s why we’re here. It’s a spot for neighbors. People walk in and know each other—it’s already becoming that kind of place.”

The new location mirrors the original Davis Islands café menu, which includes espresso drinks, teas, and toast-centric breakfast offerings. But thanks to the in-house bakery, customers can expect more tasty pastries like their new cinnamon buns.

While it won’t immediately replicate the popular “Friday Night Jazz” series from the Davis Islands location due to space limitations, Perez isn’t ruling out live music altogether.

DI Coffee Bar Seminole Heights is open 6:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekends.

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This article appears in Apr 17-23, 2025.