Sailor Adams
This pandemic has put many local businesses to the test, and very few lack a unique story of those challenges they have faced since its arrival last spring.
Cafe Soliel, a quaint French bakery and cafe located in the heart of St. Pete Beach is no exception to the list. And with its warm, inviting atmosphere, proximity to the sand, and forever lingering scent of fresh-baked croissants, what’s not to like?
Lauren Chezaud was born and raised in Paris before moving to the Florida coast and bringing a little bit of home along with her in 2013.
For anyone who has been to France, you can taste it in the food. A mouthwatering combination of house-made pastries, imported French cheeses, and local organic vegetables construct every dish.
The first dramatic change made at the cafe was its closure of the inside. Guests were asked to wait at the door for a server to come out and take their order. There was a limited amount of socially distanced outside seating available on the patio for the guest’s convenience, however, everything was packaged exclusively in “to go” cups and containers.
“I felt like that was the best option for us at the beginning, but after a few months I knew I had to make a more environmentally friendly change,” said Chezaud.
It was a constant struggle between keeping everyone safe and cutting back on single-use waste.
Chezaud quickly began serving food on plates and coffee and mugs once again. This decision not only cut back down on the waste but eliminated a high cost of material that was weighing her down in the early and financially bare months of the pandemic.
Sometime in late summer, the cafe opened its inside back up for a socially distanced, limited capacity, air-conditioned dining option. However, she was still hesitant to do so.
“Many of my customers are elderly, especially the regulars, so they had to be my top priority when it came to making decisions about safety,” said Chezaud. She also explained that it is those regulars who have helped her out the most during the height of the pandemic this past year.
“Seeing those familiar faces, even under masks, reminded me of why I started this”, said Chezaud. “And it was through them that I saw so much generosity, even during this difficult time.”
Right now, it is her top priority to give back to her customers the same support they gave her throughout this pandemic.
“The girls became a little family here this past year, and we work really hard to make our guests feel that way too,” said Chezaud. “The girls” is how she refers to her all-female staff of baristas and chefs.
Since opening back up completely and combating the trials of the pandemic in new ways, the cafe has started to bring in many more customers than it did this time last year.
With new menu items on the rise and talk of a possible new second location to open up, Cafe Soliel is shining through the murk and unease one latte, quiche, and chocolate croissant at a time.
