"Grab it and go with it"
Naples Daily News
Breno Donatti is the founder of Winfield Street Coffee, a dining chain mainly comprising six grab-and-go kiosks offering breakfast sandwiches, bowls and salads in New York City's affluent Westchester and Fairfield suburbs. Donatti recently opened an outpost on the Q line subway platform at 86th Street on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, with another planned on the same line at 96th Street.
So, what’s he doing in Naples?
A conversation I’ve had over the years with friends who’ve moved from the New York tri-state area to this neck of the woods is the dearth of grab-and-go meal availability, specifically for food you want to eat pronto.
In this week’s news, you’ll meet Winfield Street Coffee's Breno Donatti who noticed it too.
Yes, there are some terrific indie grab-and-go options in Southwest Florida (hello Tony's Off Third, Sauce Lady, Mario's Meat Market!). And most grocery markets have a variety of packaged meals at the ready. But 15 minutes waiting to check out during season kind of eradicates the “go” part of the equation.
For singletons and two-person households, grab-and-go can also be less expensive than shopping for ingredients and preparing from-scratch meals at home, especially if you abide by the motto, “Time is money, honey.”
This week's news also shares kitchen confidential details on a new Naples restaurant concept, plus an on-trend dining idea when visiting Marco Island.
Grab it and go with it
Breno Donatti is the founder of Winfield Street Coffee, a dining chain mainly comprising six grab-and-go kiosks offering breakfast sandwiches, bowls and salads in New York City's affluent Westchester and Fairfield suburbs. Donatti recently opened an outpost on the Q line subway platform at 86th Street on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, with another planned on the same line at 96th Street.
So, what’s he doing in Naples?
“Our decision to expand to Naples was personal. I moved my wife and kids here and just fell in love with the city," Donatti said. "My wife (Jeanette Vecchione-Donatti) is a renowned opera singer engaged with Opera Naples. Our kids love having a large backyard. The restrictions in the northeast made life pretty miserable. Naples is paradise."
Noticing how the region is experiencing a huge boom, Donatti believed his business model would be well received given the area's relatively small number of independently owned cafes, bakeries, lunch and breakfast spots.
“I searched for a Naples location for about a year," he said. "Suddenly at the end of 2021, I came across three incredible opportunities. I decided to go big and open all three, really putting stakes in the ground."
Naples' first Winfield Street Coffee kiosk opened at the Coastland Center Mall on Dec. 15. Two more brick-and-mortar outposts are scheduled to open in the coming weeks. First up, planned for April 8, is a Winfield at 1250 Tamiami Trail N, Naples. The space was most recently M&G Farmstand.
When the M&G opportunity came along, Donatti realized he could "add value by acquiring their incredible reputation and hiring their chefs, including Chef Nelson Brisson who has worked there for about 25 years."
Winfield Street Coffee mainly offers corporate catering, but with the M&G acquisition, they will add high-end catering options.
The next Winfield is planned for April 25 at 13800 Tamiami Trail N, Naples, replacing a former Subway.
Both locations will feature extensive grab-and-go packaged items prepared daily. Breakfast sandwiches are priced $3.25-$9.50; a breakfast rice bowl with egg, avocado, chicken and sweet potato is $11.50; lunch items range from $9.50-$14.
"We opened our business here so we can support the surrounding community with new coffee and breakfast options while also promoting, partnering with, and sponsoring local initiatives and businesses including local artisans, artists and churches," Donatti said.
And like most Southwest Florida hospitality businesses, they’re hiring.
Hours vary by location; visit winfieldcoffee.com to learn more.
Read more at: Naples Daily News