The black and white cartoon-like theme, designed and painted by local artist Chad Mize, gives the illusion of being inside a coloring book.
Courtesy of Sophia George | The Crow’s Nest
By Sophia George
The 2D Cafe, St. Petersburg’s newest addition to its lineup of eccentric small businesses, offers the experience of a traditional European-style cafe with an artistic twist.
With its grand opening on April 8, the 2D Cafe –– owned by Maria Merello and her wife Maria Kyriakidou –– is an immersive monochromatic space that makes both the patrons and the cafe’s offerings the stand-out pops of color amid an otherwise black and white room.
The space was designed and hand-painted by renowned local artist Chad Mize, giving it a special connection to the rich art culture of St. Petersburg.
Food and drink options at the 2D Cafe include coffee, freshly baked pastries, salads and sandwiches, and there are plans to expand the menu in order to cater to a wider range of customer needs.
“We want to add more gluten-friendly and vegan items just to have more options for anybody with any type of dietary restrictions,” general manager Alex Campbell told The Crow’s Nest.
According to Campbell, 2D cafes and restaurants have gained major popularity in America since they emerged around five years ago in Asia and Europe.
“[Merello and Kyriakidou] are world travelers and during one of their travels they opened up a Forbes magazine and saw a spread about one of the first 2D cafes that was established in Japan, and they thought it was a really cool idea,” Campbell said.
Merello and Kyriakidou sat on the idea of bringing a 2D eatery experience to Florida for two years, and originally wanted to open one in Orlando.
“Given that St. Petersburg has had so much traction and population growth, [Merello and Kyriakidou] actually thought that this would be the ideal spot, and then it just came down to solidifying the location,” Campbell said.
The 2D Cafe is located at 2105 Central Ave., formerly home to Swah-Rey in the Grand Central District.
The Grand Central District –– which spans across First Avenue South, Central Avenue and First Avenue North from 16th Street North to 31st Street North –– is a hotspot for arts and entertainment and home to local antique retailers, bars, restaurants and art galleries.
Closing on the location in December, it only took Merello, Kyriakidou and their team three months to create and open the doors of their new business.
Campbell told The Crow’s Nest that the cafe’s opening week was a whirlwind, but commended locals and neighboring business owners as “an army of kind people” that have helped them get on their feet.
