About Town: Salento Coffee Shop moving to new location on Clematis Street
Just how far would you go for a great cup of coffee?
NOT Sanka. NOT some truck-stop swill served in an Earth-killing styrofoam cup. Real coffee. Coffee brewed only with beans from two select areas in Colombia.
Don't worry. In this case, it's not a marathon — it's only about two blocks.
That's right, Salento Coffee Shop on Dixie Highway is moving to new, highly coveted, digs on Clematis Street at the Mandel Public Library.
Chosen by the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority and the West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, this locally-owned, family-run business has big plans for the prime location.
Openings: Common Grounds coffee shop debuts in West Palm Beach
Getting picked was no easy feat. Owners Jaime and Johona Lara had to apply and put together a detailed business plan that entailed not only how they would run the business itself, but also their plans for the outside areas and community at large.
Getting the official nod in early April, they are now renovating the space and plan to be up and running at the new location in the fall.
Though Jaime Lara said the new space is approximately the same size as their current location, he said the layout is different and will allow for more people inside.
They are also setting up an area inside the library that will seat approximately 40 people, and they will have tables, chairs and umbrellas outside the shop that can accommodate another 40.
Once up and running, they plan to take full advantage of the large open courtyard with cultural events including music, literature, art, and educational opportunities.
They will hold also hold events that will benefit nonprofits in the area including the Esperanza Community Center in West Palm Beach.
Naming their shop for the small town in Colombia where they get most of their beans (the other area is Sierra Nevada), the Laras opened Salento Coffee Shop in 2018.
The couple originally worked as psychologists in Colombia before moving to Utah in 2012 and then to West Palm Beach, Jaime Lara said.
He said it was dream to open the shop.
In addition to serving coffee brewed from some of the finest beans on Earth, they also offer smoothies and juices, along with arepas, paninis, beef and chicken empanadas and traditional Colombian bites including pastel de pollo (chicken patties), pasteles de carne (beef patties), pastel gloria (guava & cheese pastry), pastel de guayaba (guava patties) and pandebonos (Colombian bread made of cassava starch, cheese and eggs).
What: Salento Coffee Shop
Current location: 120 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach
Soon-to-be-new location: 407 Clematis St., West Palm Beach
Information: mysalentocoffee.com; 561-841-6138
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Prezzo to show teachers some love with a free cocktail or mocktail
Forget setting apple on their desk: Educators might need something a little stronger than that to feel appreciated in this world of mask/no-mask, in-class learning/remote learning and all the other insanity currently playing out.
To show some serious love, Prezzo in Boca and Palm Beach Gardens will be offering up some pretty sweet, alcoholic treats for Teacher Appreciation Week.
From Monday through May 6, teachers can belly up to the bar (or sit at a nice table, whatever) for a free specialty cocktail (or mocktail), beer or glass of wine up to $14.
What: Teacher Appreciation Week
Where: Prezzo, 4520 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens; 5560 N. Military Trail, Boca Raton
Cost: Free (one free drink for teachers with ID)
Information: www.eatprezzo.com
Eddie Ritz is a journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network. He has lived in the West Palm Beach area for more than 30 years and, from mild to wild, will cover noteworthy community happenings. He can be reached at eritz@pbpost.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Salento Coffee Shop moving to new location in West Palm Beach
