Coffeehouse 'not in the closet'

By SHANNON E. BREEN

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 4, 2001

Its mostly gay clientele find comfort in a cozy decor, board games and live entertainment.

TAMPA -- Even though David Gonzalez's friend of three years joked that he was born waving a rainbow flag, the 26-year-old therapist has never told his parents that he is gay.

Gonzalez, who was visiting from Louisiana, sipped on a latte and puffed on a cigarette at a Different Grind Coffeehouse and Bookstore, a new shop that caters to a mostly gay clientele.

While sitting on the patio facing busy Howard Avenue, he felt comfortable enough at Different Grind to tell a reporter, "I'm gay."

Stepping out of the closet may be getting easier in the Tampa Bay area with the flourishing of gay-friendly dance clubs, restaurants and coffeehouses.

For 14 years, rainbow emblems have decorated the front of Tomes & Treasures on S Howard Avenue, a gay-themed gift shop.

Now the same owner, Bill Kanouff, has opened Different Grind.

Large windows in front of the porch contribute to its homey feeling and keep patrons visible.

"We have nothing to hide. (The windows) give it an airy open feeling. We're not in the closet," Kanouff said.

Inside, the shop is cozy yet formal with an art deco look, comfy leather chairs and sofas, and a gas fireplace upstairs.

On the drawing board: a wall dedicated to local artists. The coffeehouse will feature different gay/lesbian artists and be utilized for showings and rotating exhibits.

In addition to the books, magazines, coffees, teas and pastries on offer, patrons can play board games such as Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, cribbage and even the Dr. Laura game. Coffeehouse manager Bill French, 20, assures that the game, inspired by the talk show host whose conservative views have prompted protest from the gay community, is taken purely as a joke.

If you are an aspiring singer, poet or comedian, or just crave attention, there's a stage for live entertainment.

Since it opened Nov. 18, Different Grind has donated monthly to charities, including the Tampa AIDS Network and Equality Florida.

"I wanted to create an intellectual, upscale but fun, comfortable atmosphere for our community," Kanouff said. "This is a place you can take a date or even your mom."

PREVIEW

A Different Grind Coffeehouse and Bookstore, 406 S Howard Ave., Tampa. 10 a.m.-midnight Mon.-Sat.; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun. (813) 251-9368.

Also

Brigit's Books, 3434 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg; (727) 522-5775; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon., Wed., Fri. and Sat.; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tue. and Thur.; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sun. After 11 years in the current building, the store is relocating on Jan. 16 to 11th Avenue N and Fourth Street

Enchanted Brews, 6578 30th Ave. N (corner of 30th Avenue N and 56th Street), St. Petersburg; (727) 344-2939; 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Mon.-Thur.; 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Fri.; 1 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sat.; 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sun.

The Globe, 532 First Ave. N, St. Petersburg; (727) 898-5282; closed Sun. and Mon. except for brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the last Sunday of the month; 10 a.m. to midnight Tue.-Thur.; 10 a.m. to after 3 a.m. Fri.; 1 p.m. to after 3 a.m. Sat.

Sacred Grounds, 4819 Busch Blvd. E, Tampa; (813) 983-0837; 6:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tue.-Thur.; 6:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Fri.-Sat.; 6:30 p.m. to midnight Sun.

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