Craft coffee bar arrives on 4th Street South

The renaissance of south St. Pete is only just beginning. Nueva Cantina — formerly El Gallo Grande  — and Old Southeast Market, along with Southside Coffee Bar have all helped to elevate the business scene beyond the Burg’s burgeoning downtown area. The stretch is also home to the local gems The Chattaway and Munch’s. Now, Story Brooke, a craft coffee bar serving smoked and brûléed drinks, waffles (gluten-free upon request), homemade truffles, pressed sandwiches, cold brew and kombucha on draft, looks to add a flavor of their own to 4th Street South.

Morning joe made with mixologist spirit

For owner Story Brooke, a Tampa native, opening this craft coffee bar was a dream. Brooke has a background in mixology and is bringing that same flair for flavor to her coffee drinks. The creme brûlée latte is torched to offer a sweet, melty morning jolt.

Whisky-infused syrups and waffles galore

The waffles are the main event. These glorious creations are topped with whisky-infused syrups. On our visit, Story Brooke was serving a Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky syrup with blueberries and bananas on the side. Of course, you can’t enjoy these fine confections without two generous scoops of ice cream.

Handmade furnishings give space an artisanal touch

Story Brooke gets their coffee from Penny Cup, an Asheville-based coffee roaster. The Kombucha is by Farm Boy — they currently have ginger beer and raspberry flavors on tap. The craft coffee bar is consistent with the Burg’s handmade narrative. The bar is constructed from pieces of wood pulled from an 116-year-old church in Alabama. The couch is made from upcycled bourbon barrels.

The attention to detail — seamlessly blending the decadence of the drink/food menu with the local quirk of St. Pete — makes Story Brooke a welcome addition to the city and an integral part of south St. Pete’s business surge. Follow Story Brooke on Facebook and Instagram to learn about their daily waffle specials and updates on new desserts/kombucha flavors.

Since opening, Story Brooke has grown wildly popular with local residents. You can find her cold brew at JJ’s Market and Deli on Gandy Boulevard, and order her culinary and coffee creations on UberEats. With great popularity comes the need for more space.

Story Brooke announced on Instagram that she will be taking over the space next to her on 4th Street South.  The new Bottling and Draft Room will offer comfortable seating, Mother Kombucha, hand crafted tea, nitro and cold brew and more to fill your growlers with.

Hours

• Monday-Wednesday: 7:30am-7pm
• Saturday: 8am-4pm
• Sunday: 8am-2pm

Story Brooke, 1437 4th Street South

*Article by Andrew Harlan, writer/editor of I Love The Burg