Tea lounge may replace Mirta's coffee, artwork
The space occupied by the recently closed Mirta's Gallery Coffeehouse may house a second, and more versatile, tea room for Kaleisia Tea Lounge.
By RICK GERSHMAN
Published October 13, 2006
This spring, the owners of Mirta's Gallery Coffeehouse expanded its menu and were considering adding an outdoor patio and a beer and wine license.
Last week, the funky Hyde Park Avenue art gallery and cafe suddenly closed.
But all's not lost for fans of art - or caffeine. Another business is eyeballing the space, and some of Mirta's artwork could reappear nearby.
Mirta's shuttered Oct. 4, not for lack of business but because founder and co-owner Albert Burruezo found it too exhausting to run the gallery in addition to his work as a real estate agent.
He ran the gallery for a year before adding the coffeehouse component with business partners Alice and Duane Hall in December. Along with exhibitions and other events, Mirta's often hosted live music and other performances.
"It was just getting to be a lot of work, too much, and the fun got out of it," Burruezo said.
Though Mirta's didn't attract a large clientele on weekday afternoons, it did much better in the evening and on weekends, Burruezo said. "We had a lot of business, to be honest with you."
And while many Tampa art patrons likely will be disappointed to lose another venue, Burruezo freely admitted he was relieved to be moving on.
"I'm so excited I can't tell you," he said. "I gave it two years of my life. I never realized how much work a gallery was."
Though Mirta's is gone, Burruezo plans to continue some involvement in showcasing local art. Burruezo said he's in discussions with friends who own That's Amore, an Italian restaurant on Harbour Island, to do art openings there, perhaps every other month.
And the owners of north Tampa's Kaleisia Tea Lounge, which sold its loose teas at Mirta's, are looking into opening a second tea room in Mirta's space, at 119 S Hyde Park Ave.
Kaleisia pronounced kuh-LIE-zhuh is a name formed from the words "kaleidoscope" and "Asia." It's been open for almost 18 months on E Fletcher Avenue at 15th Street, in a plaza near the University of South Florida's main campus.
Kim Pham, who owns Kaleisia with her cousin Lan Ha, said she was "very sad" Mirta's decided to close. But the location would be perfect for a South Tampa tea lounge, she said, because there's plenty of space for a full-size tea room.
That would allow Kaleisia to do traditional Japanese tea service and gong fu, a traditional Chinese tea ceremony, said Pham (pronounced Fom).
"We don't really have the space for that" at the Fletcher Avenue location, she said. "And it's difficult with all the students and music and all."
Kaleisia has more than 150 varieties of tea, plus smoothies, vegetarian food and pastries. Pham said she was in discussions with the building's landlord and was hopeful they could come to terms.
Rick Gershman can be reached at rgershman@sptimes.com or 226-3431.