Studio to feature art, coffee
Art Studio Cafe will be part gallery, workspace and coffee shop.
The circle of life definition is this: Nature’s way of taking and giving back life to earth.
That doesn’t just happen in “The Lion King.” It happens in business as well.
Late last year, Mother Earth Sanctuary Cafe closed after nearly 10 years in its Second Avenue North location.
The Art Studio Cafe officially moves into the 800-square-foot space this afternoon with a grand opening, ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The gallery, which will serve Cuban coffee, espresso shots, cappuccino and regular/decaf coffee along with empanadas and pastries, will be owned and run by Maria Paz, a West Palm Beach artist who paints murals and portraits.
“I have to drinks tons of coffee to produce art,” Paz said.
Nine artists will display and sell their work from the studio. The works will range from paintings to pottery. Handmade jewelry will also be featured for sale.
Paz also plans to host sip and paint classes as she did at the old Bx Beer Depot on South J Street as well as intermediate art classes.
Don’t expect, however, to have internet access.
“I may not even get Wi-Fi,” Paz said. “I don’t want it to be a Wi-Fi hangout.”
Patti Lucia, Mother Earth owner, didn’t have Wi-Fi, either.
“People need a place where they can unplug and get away from the noise of our world,” Lucia told The Palm Beach Post last year. “This is a space where people can breathe and enjoy each other’s company in a peaceful environment.”
The cafe will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays and will have indoor/outdoor seating. The grand opening is scheduled for 5:30 to 9 p.m., 410 Second Ave. N.
Paz wasn’t planning on opening an art studio this year, but fate had different ideas. While painting a mural for Awe Flowers, a new floral shop, Patti Sheldon, the shop’s owner who is also a real estate agent, told Paz about the vacant space.
“I told Patti I would only do it with a little coffee bar and the ability to rent out artists workspaces to help cover the rent,” Paz said.
Paz has had her work exhibited before at the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County on Lake Avenue, so she was familiar with downtown Lake Worth.
“I love the quaintness, the small-town feel, the mom-andpop shops,” she said.
The space, owned by Bondaire LLC, needed some work. While the owners removed the popcorn ceiling and the grease on the floors, Paz did most of the painting, spackling and caulking.
She started a GoFundMe page to help with the costs, raising $1,100.
“This experience has been wonderful,” Paz said. “I haven’t felt this energized since I left my parents house in New England to study art.”