First Look: C. Oliver Coffee & Flower Bar in Maplewood

Maplewood’s newest cafe, C. Oliver Coffee & Flower Bar, will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, Sept. 14, in a historic building at 7401 Hazel Ave., the former home of Orbit Pinball Lounge.

As Sauce reported in March, co-owners and longtime friends Olivia Medina and Alyssa Schuler decided to combine their respective passions – coffee and flowers – in the business. The C. pays homage to Schuler’s late father, Craig, and Oliver nods to the cafe, Oliver M’s, that Medina used to run at the church the pair attend.

“We wanted to create a space where both coffee connoisseurs and regular people feel comfortable to come in and be creative,” Schuler said.

C. Oliver will carry local roaster Sump and will offer traditional espresso-based beverages like lattes and macchiatos, along with two specialty drinks. Oliver’s Tart Tonic includes espresso, tonic water, lime and cherry juice over ice. Reminiscent of a chocolate-covered strawberry, the Powder Pink Mocha espresso, steamed strawberry milk and dark chocolate chips.

Both hot and cold Black Brew Tea will also be on offer, and for those avoiding caffeine (and kids, Medina said), there will be “mock-ttes” with steamed strawberry milk topped with cocoa powder.

“A lot of cafes aren’t very kid friendly, so we want moms to feel like they can bring their children here,” Medina said.

To start, the cafe will offer two custom macarons from La Patisserie Chouquette. “We have a lavender-vanilla and a vanilla-rose,” Medina said. “We literally sent over the swatch of our couches and the pink wall, and they matched them exactly. They’re so pretty.”

Medina said they plan to eventually sell prepackaged food items. They’re also hoping to start hosting other businesses at pop-up events, like a mini farmers market on the patio.

A flower bar will be set up on the back wall, with grab-and-go bouquets for purchase. Customers will also be able to build their own bouquets from a range of flowers and greens.

“Eventually, we’d like to host flower workshops for adults and children,” Schuler said.

The cafe seats about 45 inside and 20 on the patio. With several large windows, Medina and Schuler hope the bright, airy space fosters in creativity amid its art deco surroundings.

“As millennial as this sounds, we just want it to be Instagram friendly,” Medina said. “At every angle, it’s a super-cute background.”

C. Oliver Coffee & Flower Bar will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday. Here’s a First Look at St. Louis’ first coffee and flower bar.

Lauren Healey is associate editor at Sauce Magazine.