Kahwa Coffee to Close South St. Petersburg Site

The coffee shop will shut its location at 400 45th Avenue S. in October 2026 after three years of operation.

Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Openings & Closings

Screen-print poster illustration of a modern storefront, capturing the aesthetic of a commercial property in bright coastal light. — Kahwa Coffee will close its South St. Petersburg location on 45th Avenue S. in October 2026 after falling short of revenue targets. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Kahwa Coffee plans to close its café at 400 45th Avenue S. in St. Petersburg by October 2026. The company chose to terminate the lease early due to insufficient business volume.

Why it matters

The closure follows the company's assessment that the location failed to generate necessary revenue. Additionally, the expected redevelopment of the nearby Coquina Key Plaza site did not materialize as planned, impacting the café's long-term viability.

The company is listing the 400 45th Avenue S. building for sale at $950,000. While this site closes, Kahwa Coffee is preparing to launch three new cafés in St. Petersburg, St. Pete Beach, and Valrico.

The players

Kahwa Coffee

This is a coffee roasting and retail company that launched in 2006.

The details

Company leadership decided to end the lease early as the location did not meet financial performance targets. All employees currently working at the 400 45th Avenue S. site will be reassigned to other Kahwa Coffee locations.

2006: Kahwa Coffee company started operations.
August 2023: The South St. Petersburg café opened.
2024: Hurricanes Helene and Milton occurred.
October 2026: The café is scheduled to close.

Market Landscape

The closure reflects the volatility of retail environments tied to incomplete urban development projects. By reassigning staff to new locations in St. Pete Beach and Valrico, the company is pivoting toward more sustainable growth sectors after the redevelopment of the 14.5-acre Coquina Key Plaza site stalled.

Customers who frequented this location should anticipate shifting their regular visits to other Kahwa Coffee sites in the area as the staff transitions. The site, which served patrons spending an average of $11 to $12 per visit, will cease operations entirely by the end of October 2026.

The takeaway

Businesses often depend on the success of broader area redevelopment projects to sustain local operations. When those development milestones fail to materialize, companies must re-evaluate their footprint to ensure overall fiscal stability.