Coffee Shop Wants To Return To A Little Bit Normal For Customers

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — It's been a whirlwind of emotions for business owners in St. Petersburg since the start of the coronavirus pandemic earlier this year, but some establishments like Gypsy Souls Coffee House hope for a tiny taste of normal in the near future.

"Every small business has had to make decisions, and I commend everybody that gets up every morning and is trying," owner Ryan Dean told Patch. "It's difficult. Especially with all the chaos and all the noise."

Gypsy Souls Coffeehouse St. Pete & Gypsy Beans Coffee Roasters is located at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street North shop near Fifth Avenue North.

Dean said he hasn't had to lay off any of his employees, but in March when there were so many unknowns, his staff went home for two weeks, and he ran the coffee shop on Dr. MLK Jr. Street North.

"Once my staff saw how I was doing everything here, such as closing the doors, not allowing anyone in and wearing a mask at all times, they felt safe coming back to work," Dean said.

A piece of plexiglass laid in the back of the building and Dean took it and placed it at the store's entry to provide a barrier between staff members and customers when drinks were being ordered. Customers stand outside at the door while a barista stands on the other side of the plexiglass and takes their order and then brings the coffee back.

"We're getting ready to slowly start allowing a small group of customers back in the store," said Dean. "What we're gonna do next is have plexiglass around the counter area once we let people in."

Dean is working on a plan that outlines the in-store experience for customers, and wants to have that worked out properly before he allows people to come inside.

"Restaurants have it a little easier than coffee shops because when you're done eating, what do you do," he asked. "You get up and leave. A lot of people prior to the pandemic liked to come in here and make this their office. They like to stay here for hours and work on their laptops."

He is in the process of planning a little bit of back to normal for his customers while also following the Centers for Disease Control guidelines.

Gypsy Souls has a coffee roaster and roasts coffee beans for its shop and other nearby coffee places such as Neighborhood Joe.

Gypsy Souls is located at 515 Dr. MLK Jr. St. N, St. Petersburg. A second location is in Redington Beach.

The hours of operation for the St. Pete location are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is closed on Sundays.

For more information about Gypsy Souls, visit their website at Gypsy Souls.