Sambalatte Torrefazione Is Finally Headed Downtown

For years, Luiz Oliveira has been planning to expand his Sambalatte Torrefazione "Caffè Lounge & Espresso Bar" downtown, almost committing to a space on the ground floor of the Soho Lofts. Now, he’ll finally get the chance to make his move with the fourth incarnation of the highly successful Sambalatte brand, already planned to feature a drive-thru.

The coffee shop will take over a half acre plot at 1319 S. Main St., currently a collection of abandoned industrial buildings. Plans for the project have yet to be released and won’t begin the City approval process in earnest until October.

Sambalatte already operates in Boca Park, Spring Valley and at the front entrance to the Monte Carlo resort on the Strip.

This new home resides two blocks south on Main Street from Makers and Finders’ "urban coffee bar" and the under construction Vesta Coffee Roasters, remodeling the shuttered Reclaimed Art Suppliez store on Casino Center Blvd. No timetable or an official announcement of Sambalatte’s expansion has been revealed.

Earlier this year, The Corner Building, which faces Maker & Finders, brazenly included Sambalatte in their pre-construction design renderings, hoping to indicate the type of tenants they wanted for their mixed-use retail center.

And if you prefer a more familiar name for your morning jolt, early plans are also being considered to build a large Starbucks on the empty lot at the southwest corner of Clark and Casino Center. It will sit a short walk from City Hall, MTO Cafe and a mile from the Sambalatte site. If their expansion moves forward, Starbucks is also expected to include a drive-thru.