Bula Kava Bar & Coffeehouse (Cocoa Beach) — Restaurant in Cocoa Beach

I have been a loyal customer at Bula for over seven years, spending thousands of dollars a month across multiple locations. Recently, I approached the owner with a straightforward business inquiry about potentially purchasing one of their locations. We had what I believed to be a normal conversation, but the next day, I was blindsided by a hostile message from the owner, accusing me of trying to undermine his business. Without warning, I was banned from the premises.

As I was leaving, I was immediately confronted by the manager, Sharon—who launched into an unprovoked tirade, insulting me and threatening to call the police if I didn’t leave. Her behavior was not only aggressive but completely unprofessional. This incident left me baffled, especially since my inquiry about the business was entirely above board.

What’s even more absurd is that the owner and Sharon apparently developed an unfounded belief that I was part of a secret plan to take over their business, along with several of my friends who frequent Bula. Not only is this idea baseless, but it also shows a misunderstanding of how business transactions typically work. Buying a business doesn’t involve some covert conspiracy—it’s a legal and straightforward process, typically handled through negotiations, not whispers in the dark.

Over the next few days, they interrogated other customers, asking them if they were ‘in on’ this imagined scheme. They even went as far as to approach 50-year-old grown men who have been loyal customers for years, whispering to them, ‘Don’t worry, you won’t get banned, you’re good.’ This kind of behavior is not only unprofessional but frankly, appears cultish.

But this isn’t the only unethical or illegal behavior I’ve seen from Sharon. In my experience, it seemed that employees were sometimes asked to work without pay, which I believe is both illegal and exploitative. I’ve seen instances where she appeared to pressure customers through text messages in ways that felt like blackmail to me threatening them if they didn’t stop discussing her questionable actions. On top of that, they harass employees for visiting other kava bars, as if they have the right to control where they go during their personal time.

This paranoia and mistreatment aren’t isolated incidents. Recently, several of their best employees were either fired or forced to quit under false accusations. It’s no wonder it appears that Bula is losing many of its loyal customers, especially with new kava bars opening nearby, such as Booch Kava Bar, and Calm Collective, and Island Root in Satellite. Bula is driving away the very people who kept them in business.

To quote Warren Buffett, ‘It’s only when the tide goes out that you discover who’s been swimming naked.’ Bula’s true nature has been exposed, and it’s clear they don’t deserve your support. Or as Ron White said, ‘You can’t fix stupid.’ The way this business is being run is a textbook example of how to alienate customers and employees alike.

I strongly recommend exploring other kava bars in the area—places where customers are valued, and both the employees and the business are treated with the respect...

My nephew and I wanted to try Kava. This was our first experience with a no alcoholic bar. We arrived early in the morning after a beach walk. Walked in to a cozy atmosphere with a small stage, pool table and video game 🎮 room. The Young female attendant 🤵🏽‍♀️was very informative ℹ️ about what the Kava bar was essentially the Kava 🥥 tasted like liquid chalk. This gave us a numbing effect down the throat 👅 and a very calming ☮️ sinking sensation. to my taste, it was not likable, but then we were offered a white tea ☕️ green tea 🍵 or red tea 🫖 option that when added sweetener (which the sweetener needed to be added) tasted like in Arizona green tea drink 🍹 by drinking both I found out after sharing my experience with a girlfriend 👧 that the Kava is a downer and that the white tea ☕️ is a upper so mixing the two together wouldn’t work however, after we played a game of pool 🪈which we enjoyed, I started to get dizzy and not feeling well so having an empty stomach I ate some fruit 🍎 and while in the car on the way to our next destination threw everything up, arrived at our destination and had to use the bathroom 🚽 my stomach contents were cleaned 🧹 out as well as diarrhea. I had the runs and threw up some more until everything was out. This was not an experience I would like to repeat again. The atmosphere was nice, but would never want to go back did not like the way my body felt a little dizzy and like I was drunk with...

EDIT: the situation has been addressed promptly and very courteously. Big thanks to staff and Garrett for allowing my concerns to be voiced, heard, responded to and addressed. Thank you very much! ♥️ Rewarding 4stars for killer service to my concern.

ORIGINAL POST: please institute an “adult swim” time at least. I don’t like coming here when it’s a daycare whether it’s lunchtime or past 9pm like last night, it really harshes my mellow when I want a cultured, quiet environment but kids are always running around more lately? Please address this, I and others last night wanted to enjoy the atmosphere but there were kids and activities for them? Two stas because of the kids and daycare atmosphere. Bartenders and products are good. Please address the situation with kids. A number of people left last night on the 27th because of the kids being loud, making a mess, jumping on couches, etc, including myself and my girlfriend. “Family friendly” is fine but this place is turning into a daycare...