St. Petersburg's Banyan Cafe & Catering will open a second location inside the Morean Arts Center at 719 Central Ave. in about three months. Banyan owner Erica Allums said she's aiming to have the cafe open by Nov. 1.
In addition to the new shop, Allums said Banyan plans to open a catering kitchen near glass artist Duncan McClellan's studio in the industrial Warehouse Arts District area of St. Pete.
Allums, who's running the catering kitchen with her husband Bruce, said it will launch around the same time as the cafe, allowing Banyan to dedicate more space to its catering.
With an artsier feel and more outdoor seating, the new cafe will be slightly larger than the one along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street.
The original location's concept and small menu will be brought to the Banyan at the Morean, but there will also be a few additions, including more baked goods and salads.
According to Allums, the shop will extend its hours into the evenings during the city's growing ArtWalk, which happens every second Saturday of the month, and other special happenings.
"We're also a caterer, so matching up with the Morean for events will be good for Banyan," she said.
Allums opened the first Banyan six years ago. She said she hopes the Central Avenue cafe will attract a different crowd — people who might stop in while meandering through nearby shops and galleries.
This article appears in Jul 24-30, 2014.