Pilar Coffee seeks $69,449 CRA grant to open a new coffee bar in downtown Coral Springs
Coral Springs, Florida – A new coffee shop could soon become part of the growing downtown area of Coral Springs, with Pilar Coffee Bar and Iced Treats seeking financial assistance from the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency to open a location on University Drive.
The CRA board is scheduled to consider a $69,449 matching grant for the proposed business during its Monday meeting at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will take place in the Sawgrass Room at Coral Springs City Hall.
If approved, the money would help fund improvements needed to turn a 2,100-square-foot commercial suite at Cornerstone Downtown into a functioning coffee bar. The mixed-use development on University Drive is being built with both residential and retail space.
Plans for the Pilar location include an area for serving coffee and food, customer seating and a walk-in cooler. The proposed renovation would also involve a range of construction work, including new partitions, flooring, plumbing and electrical improvements, as well as upgrades related to fire safety.
According to documents submitted to the city, Florida Construction Services has estimated the construction portion of the project at $327,898. Once furniture, equipment, signs and other expenses are included, the total investment for the project is expected to reach approximately $495,000.
The financing plan includes money from the property’s owner. A $189,000 tenant improvement allowance would pay for part of the construction expenses. After that contribution, the application lists $138,898 in remaining costs.
The CRA grant under consideration would cover half of that remaining amount, or $69,449. The request is therefore structured as a matching grant rather than funding the entire renovation.
If the project moves ahead, construction is expected to take about 14 weeks after work begins. The timing of the opening would depend on the approval process and completion of the planned improvements.
Pilar Coffee Bar and Iced Treats already has a South Florida location. The business opened at The Cove in Deerfield Beach in December 2024, giving the brand an existing presence in the local market before its proposed expansion to Coral Springs.
The company was founded by Steve Giordanella, who also founded the I Heart Mac & Cheese restaurant chain. According to the company’s website, Giordanella has plans to expand Pilar Coffee across South Florida and into New York.
The proposed Coral Springs location would add another food and beverage business to Cornerstone Downtown, as the University Drive development continues to take shape. For the CRA board, Monday’s discussion will center on whether to approve the requested $69,449 grant and allow the proposed coffee shop project to move forward with city-backed financial assistance.
