By Brandi Bottger
ST. PETE BEACH — As customers enter the doors of Grove Surf & Coffee Shop, an instant feeling of being at the Gulf beaches settles in with the smell of the salty air.
People are greeted by the staff and a wide variety of options for beachy merchandise to choose from. The walls are covered in pictures of Pinellas County’s finest landmarks, past and present, and there are plenty of options when it comes to beverages and food.
Grove is located on St. Pete Beach, just a 20-minute drive from the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus. Using the familiar roasts of Bandit Coffee Co. in downtown St. Petersburg, they’re well known for using their staple roasts to mix in with their signature lattes.
Their menu includes traditional coffee options, from hot coffee to cold brews, kombucha, tea and many more. Grove also offers a limited seasonal menu. Not only that, but options for pastries and bakery items are available for purchase as well.
What is great about Grove is the community it brings into the shop.
“Our goal was to have a spot that people felt welcomed and felt like a second home,” said Lindsay Guttschling, one of the owners of Grove. “We have had so many regulars who have become friends and family.”
Kaylee Eorgan, a 21-year-old St. Petersburg native and a student at USFSP, is also a frequent customer at Grove.
“I like trying different items on their menu that they have to offer, making them different from any other coffee shop,” Eorgan said.
What also sets Grove apart from most coffee shops is that it has a retail side to it.
“So many customers always come in here and have no idea we have retail,” Guttschling said.
Fan favorite brands like RVCA, Rainbow Sandals, REEF and Billabong are a part of the many items available for purchase. Grove also has their own shirts available for $24.99.
If you’re interested in visiting Grove Surf & Coffee, the address is 7370 Gulf Blvd, St. Pete Beach.
Grove is open every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with Fridays and Saturdays closing at 6 p.m.
USF St. Petersburg students can even get a free ride to Grove and other spots on St. Pete Beach using the new SunRunner bus, which has a stop next to the parking garage on 6th Avenue South.