Al Baik Expands Presence in UAE with New Branch in Sharjah

Kahwa, a local coffee brand founded by Sarah and Raphael Perrier in 2006, has finally opened its long-awaited drive-thru shop in St. Petersburg. The new location, situated at 6601 4th St. N, offers a walk-up window and an outdoor patio but no indoor seating. This drive-thru shop is the largest independent coffee roaster in Florida and adds to Kahwa's nearly 20 coffee shops in the Tampa Bay area, with a strong presence in St. Petersburg. The 4th Street location faced construction and permitting delays, resulting in a four-year delay from its original planned opening date at the end of 2020. However, it is now open to serve customers from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. [186e73ed]

In addition to the new drive-thru shop in St. Petersburg, Kahwa has plans to open another drive-thru location at 4530 W. Gandy Blvd. in South Tampa, although no specific opening date has been announced yet. This expansion reflects Kahwa's commitment to providing convenient and accessible coffee options for its customers in the Tampa Bay area. [186e73ed]

Chick-fil-A has also expanded its presence in the Tampa Bay area by opening its first restaurant in Leesburg. Located at 9925 US Highway 441, the eatery is over 5,000 square feet with more than 70 seats and features an express drive-thru called Mobile Thru by Chick-fil-A. The Leesburg location is one of 59 Chick-fil-A restaurants in Central Florida. The opening of the Leesburg restaurant has created 80 jobs. The chain began adding a dedicated drive-thru lane for mobile order pickups in 2023 after testing the concept for two years. The Mobile Thru service has been successful, with 85% of customers saying they would use it again and 90% reporting a smooth experience. [b73ae4e5]

Chick-fil-A is reportedly adding the Maple Pepper Bacon Sandwich to its summer menu nationwide on June 10. The sandwich features a lemon-herb marinated boneless chicken breast, Pepper Jack cheese, lettuce, bacon, and sweet and spicy pickle chips. The restaurant is also bringing back its Peach Milkshake. Chick-fil-A is currently testing a Pretzel Cheddar Club Sandwich in select locations in Raleigh, North Carolina. If the test is successful, the sandwich could be added to menus in the future. [9b159dab]

Jacksonville City Council has approved a zoning change for a controversial Chick-fil-A in Oceanway. The vote was 12 to 7, with the restaurant set to be located across from First Coast High School, with the entrance on Lady Lake Road instead of Duval Station Road. The community had expressed concerns about increased traffic and the proximity of another Chick-fil-A just over two miles away. In February, residents staged a simulated traffic study to demonstrate their concerns. The Land Use & Zoning committee had previously voted 6-1 to approve the new location. [f3a25b69]

The Chelsea, a beloved cafe in St. Petersburg's Warehouse Arts District, is closing this week. The cafe, located at 2462 5th Ave. S, announced on social media that its last day of business will be Sunday, June 16. Owner Teresa Vidal Chalkley opened The Chelsea in early 2021 as a tribute to her experience working in New York's Chelsea district. The cafe was known for its cute, cozy, and pet-friendly atmosphere. Furniture and art from the cafe will be on sale. The closure marks the end of nearly four years of operation for The Chelsea. [9f941445]

Al Baik, a popular fast-food brand known for its fried chicken, shrimp, falafel, and fries, has opened a new branch in Sharjah. The new location is situated in City Centre Al Zahia, bringing the total number of Al Baik outlets in the UAE to 18. Last month, Al Baik opened two branches in Dubai, one opposite Bur Juman Centre and the other in Silicon Oasis. Al Baik first appeared in Dubai during Expo 2020 and has since expanded to Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Ajman, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi. The brand has over 100 branches in Saudi Arabia and is rapidly expanding in the UAE. Fans in the northern Emirates are still waiting for an opening announcement. [8b94ed6e]

The Chickster, a fried chicken restaurant originally from Pune, India, has opened in Al Jadaf, Dubai. The restaurant offers a range of dishes from burgers and wraps to bowls and fries, all featuring their crispy and flavorful fried chicken. To celebrate its grand opening, The Chickster is offering a Buy One, Get One Free promotion on their fried chicken buckets. This limited-time offer is valid until July 2024. The restaurant also offers value-packed business lunch combos starting from AED 29. Located conveniently in Al Jadaf, Dubai, The Chickster aims to become a favorite destination for fried chicken enthusiasts. [70d67708]