A South Tampa favorite recently changed ownership, but lucky for its regular customers, it’s still slinging similar lattes and breakfast items.
SOG Cafe, which originally opened as a joint venture between Raw Smoothie Co. and Spaddy’s Coffee Co.—was acquired by new owners last week.
Ronald Tineo and Omar Poueriet tell Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that they took over the concept, which stands for "South of Gandy," on Monday, April 10.
While the direction and menu of SOG Cafe will be up to its new owners, Greg Spadaccini tells Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that the South Tampa shop – located at 6102 S MAcDill Ave, Suite F – will still use Spaddy’s coffee in its lattes, cappuccinos and more.
SOG Cafe, which originally opened as a joint venture between Raw Smoothie Co. and Spaddy’s Coffee Co.—was acquired by new owners last week.
Ronald Tineo and Omar Poueriet tell Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that they took over the concept, which stands for "South of Gandy," on Monday, April 10.
While the direction and menu of SOG Cafe will be up to its new owners, Greg Spadaccini tells Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that the South Tampa shop – located at 6102 S MAcDill Ave, Suite F – will still use Spaddy’s coffee in its lattes, cappuccinos and more.
While Tampa residents Tineo and Poueriet are in the early stages of ownership, their regular customers can still expect a similar drink menu during this transition. In addition to tweaking their coffee and espresso offerings, SOG's new owners are also adding a few more food items like Cuban sandwiches, breakfast burritos and more specialty toasts.
Former customers of Raw Smoothie Co. will appreciate Tineo and Poueriet keeping acai bowls, smoothies and avocado toasts, in addition to a variety of other vegan and gluten-free options.
Spadaccini says that SOG Cafe is still using the “Heights Blend” roast, a blend of coffees that Tampa’s Zeal Roasters created specifically for Spaddy’s, although Tineo and Poueriet are now responsible for their own recipes.
“We are both descendants of the Dominican Republic and look to add a little bit of our Latin flavors and coffee to an already great area of Ballast Point,” Tineo and Poueriet explain.
Poueriet met Spadaccini a few years back through the mountain bike community, and the two have been friends and riding buddies since. Poueriet quickly adopted an interest in specialty coffee and even interned at Spaddy’s just to learn more about the craft.
Spadaccini stresses that his transition out of SOG Cafe has not affected his flagship Seminole Heights location or the Spaddy’s brand in any shape or form.
He teamed up with the owners of Raw Smoothie Co. to open their joint South Tampa storefront back in 2019, and the cafe portion originally debuted as Spaddy’s second location. Roughly a year ago, the cafe and smoothie shop merged into SOG Cafe—an entirely separate entity—which Spadaccini says “allowed both Spaddy’s and Raw Smoothie Co. to have the same goals and offer a better customer experience.”
And while there's a multitude of different ways in which Spaddy’s can expand in the future, Spadaccini isn’t ruling anything out.
“We have no intention of leaving Seminole Heights. However, we are currently in the market to purchase a building or land—whether that’s for a headquarters, or a second location, we are unsure of yet,” he tells CL. “But I know I want to be my own landlord moving forward.”
For more news on SOG Cafe and its new direction, head to its Instagram at @sogcafe, where you can find more information about its newly-added menu items. It’s open every day from 7a.m.-2 p.m.
Former customers of Raw Smoothie Co. will appreciate Tineo and Poueriet keeping acai bowls, smoothies and avocado toasts, in addition to a variety of other vegan and gluten-free options.
Spadaccini says that SOG Cafe is still using the “Heights Blend” roast, a blend of coffees that Tampa’s Zeal Roasters created specifically for Spaddy’s, although Tineo and Poueriet are now responsible for their own recipes.
“We are both descendants of the Dominican Republic and look to add a little bit of our Latin flavors and coffee to an already great area of Ballast Point,” Tineo and Poueriet explain.
Poueriet met Spadaccini a few years back through the mountain bike community, and the two have been friends and riding buddies since. Poueriet quickly adopted an interest in specialty coffee and even interned at Spaddy’s just to learn more about the craft.
Spadaccini stresses that his transition out of SOG Cafe has not affected his flagship Seminole Heights location or the Spaddy’s brand in any shape or form.
He teamed up with the owners of Raw Smoothie Co. to open their joint South Tampa storefront back in 2019, and the cafe portion originally debuted as Spaddy’s second location. Roughly a year ago, the cafe and smoothie shop merged into SOG Cafe—an entirely separate entity—which Spadaccini says “allowed both Spaddy’s and Raw Smoothie Co. to have the same goals and offer a better customer experience.”
And while there's a multitude of different ways in which Spaddy’s can expand in the future, Spadaccini isn’t ruling anything out.
“We have no intention of leaving Seminole Heights. However, we are currently in the market to purchase a building or land—whether that’s for a headquarters, or a second location, we are unsure of yet,” he tells CL. “But I know I want to be my own landlord moving forward.”
For more news on SOG Cafe and its new direction, head to its Instagram at @sogcafe, where you can find more information about its newly-added menu items. It’s open every day from 7a.m.-2 p.m.
