Roberto Torres started Blind Tiger in 2014 as a Ybor City storefront for his fashion brand. More than a decade later, it’s become one of Tampa Bay’s major coffee companies and is now expanding into the bar scene.
Torres acquired Circa 1949 in Seminole Heights, turning the beer garden into a Blind Tiger with 40 beers on tap and indoor/outdoor event venue space. Its September opening at 6905 N Orleans Ave. marks Blind Tiger’s return to Seminole Heights after its shop on North Florida Ave. closed in 2022.
One of the shop’s first big events is also Tampa’s first Daylite party. The daytime party series from Orlando branches into Tampa Bay with a “House & Coffee Party” on Saturday, with house music DJs providing the vibes to complement Blind Tiger’s coffee and breakfast menu.
Torres is also among many business owners offering free meals for kids during the SNAP gap. He told Creative Loafing that Blind Tiger will continue offering the meals until SNAP is back at 100%.
Torres depended on SNAP benefits while in school, he told Fox 13.
“I know firsthand what it feels like not having the opportunity or the ability to feed yourself,” he told the station. “Some of the most hardworking people that I know are on these benefits because they need to be able to supplement their income so that they can feed themselves and their families.”
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This article appears in Nov. 6 – 12, 2025.