Kaldi’s Coffee Bar, the independently-owned shop with a large local following, is expanding on its success with plans to add a rooftop lounge and extra café space at its Silver Spring Avenue location.
Owner Tsega Hailemariam said he’s shooting for construction to begin in December, and that it will be ready before spring. Aside from the rooftop lounge, which will serve alcoholic drinks after 4 p.m., 2,100 square feet of café space will be added to the back of the first level. The kitchen will also be expanded and new equipment purchased so that casual foods such as burgers, fries and wings can be prepared, Hailemariam said.
The shop, which opened in Silver Spring in September of 2013, has a relaxing atmosphere, congenial service, extensive selection of coffee drinks and dynamite homemade baked goods. In the last six months, after customers complained about uncomfortable seating, Hailemariam bought new couches and loveseats. Kaldi’s has garnered 4.5 stars (out of five) on Yelp.