Canes Cafe & Corner Store — Restaurant in Florida

Update: such a bummer to report this lovely spot was purchased by someone who managed to run it into the ground within a month. There was such a community and welcoming friendly vibe before, now it is straight up closed as of December 2022, after being open for laughably unpredictable hours and with very bad coffee and a weird vibe, for weeks.

They scraped the holiday cheer off the windows and didn’t even put up a sign, it’s just dark now. Don’t stop for coffee.

Wishing nothing but the best to the old owners (I can only imagine what a headache it might have been to sell to someone who crashed a thriving business within weeks….), and hope someone different buys this place and brings it back to life. I bought an espresso machine when this place closed, and I know I’m not the only local to do.

*old review below for old owners

Canes Cafe is the BEST! I'd give them 6 stars if it was an option. :)

I remember moving back to Palm Harbor after years of living in megacities and being legitimately worried I wouldn't find high quality espresso without driving to Dunedin or into the Starbucks drive though.

Enter Canes Cafe! AMAZING coffee. Delightful espresso, cold brew, they know what they're doing and use great beans. Cubans are on point, I assume the waffles have a cult following, and they have Cosmic/Jupiter donuts every morning.

The people working there are a huge part of the magic and are such friendly faces - its really a joy to pop in and say hello and grab a coffee.

Love love love Canes Cafe.

Protip: They have a text-order system, so if you're always in a hurry like me, text a few minutes before you arrive and your drink is waiting for...

I have been a regular customer since opening my shop in 2020, but my experiences at this café have been increasingly disappointing.

Staffing and Service: The café is consistently understaffed, leading to long wait times and poor service. I have expressed my concerns about the opening hours; starting at 8 AM is too late for a coffee shop, yet there has been no change.

Quality of Products: I have received fermented tea on multiple occasions, indicating a lack of attention to product freshness. Additionally, there is uncertainty about the age and type of meats and cheeses offered, which raises concerns for customers with allergies.

Communication Issues: The staff’s limited English proficiency hampers effective communication with customers, which is essential in a service environment.

Product Consistency: There is a noticeable lack of basic supplies, like appropriate straws for beverages, which detracts from the overall experience. The quality of the coffee has also declined, as I received a poorly made drink that did not meet expectations.

Business Management: The café seems resistant to change and does not learn from past mistakes. Despite my prior assistance with equipment repairs, there appears to be little appreciation for such efforts.

Regulatory Compliance: I have concerns regarding the café’s expired food permit and the lack of transparency about its status.

In summary, while I hoped for improvement over the past few years, the café has failed to meet basic standards of service and product quality. I believe there is potential for growth, but significant changes are necessary to revitalize this...

I hate to leave this review, but it was my first time at Cane’s, and my boyfriend and I stopped in, because we love to support local. We ordered a gingerbread chai and two breakfast sandwiches. We did get the chai, but after waiting for 45 minutes, and watching the only person working get further and further in the weeds as high school students and more customers kept coming in. I complimented the sweet girl, who was clearly overwhelmed, and asked for a refund since she hadn’t yet started making either bagels. Unfortunately she didn’t know how to do a refund as she was new. Not a huge deal, it’s only two sandwiches. I’m not sure if it was just a staffing issue and people call out or this is how it’s usually run, but there needs to be more than one person in there at all times. I would have loved to have had breakfast before work, but understand wholeheartedly and just wanted the owner to make sure your staff has the proper support...