After closing its downtown shop during the pandemic, Spella Caffè is doing something unusual for a business that shuttered in the city’s core: reopening in the same neighborhood. Founder Andrea Spella tells WW the new outpost will be located in the former Moonstruck Chocolate store at 608 SW Alder St. That’s in the Selling Building, which is owned by the Schlesinger family, who’ve partnered with Spella on this project. 

The 17-year-old company had been operating out of a shop at Southwest 5th Avenue and Alder Street. Spella says that location became unsafe once COVID emptied the surrounding office buildings of their workers (and potential customers), then drug-related activity took off on relatively empty blocks. “This particular block feels much safer. There’s more traffic on it, both foot and car,” Spella says.