There's a new sustainable cafe in a relatively new sustainable village on an island just off the coast of Bradenton.
The Village Cafe at Rosedale is now open on Anna Maria Island. The cafe, nestled in Rosedale's
Historic Green Village, features organic sandwiches, fruit, coffee and other fare typically found in progressive Florida cafes. However, what's not typical is the philosophy behind the business and its surroundings.
The cafe is housed in a refurbished cottage situated in the state's first LEED Platinum and Zero Net Energy retail park. The village and cafe are owned and operated by British developer Lizzie Thrasher and her husband Mike, who own several properties around the island and rent vacation homes under their
Pineapplefish brand. The village is a collection of commercial buildings that use the latest green technology to conserve energy and water using sustainable materials while still preserving old Florida architecture.
The new cafe is outfitted with solar thermal panels, geothermal cooling and heating systems and high-performance water equipment. Its owners are working closely with suppliers to minimize the use of plastic and other packaging.
"Can we run a successful business here that is completely and utterly green?" asks Thrasher. "We have this great building, fabulous technology, zero energy, but we don't have the right things in the cafe yet. We are working with every supplier to take out plastic and additives and bring in organic, natural foods because the whole thing has to work. We want a complete picture here and, for me, that's the big challenge now, to make it seamless … seamlessly green."
The cafe is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week, and will soon host community events on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Writer:
Missy Kavanaugh
Source: Lizzie Thacher, Village Cafe
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