Foodie Park Miami’s grand opening in the West Grove has created a hub for community gathering, entertainment and a well-rounded culinary experience – and it all began with a coffee truck.
To Javier Olivardia and his wife Diana Franco Moreno, Panamanian coffee is the best in the world – a homegrown brew with a sweet, high-quality flavor that doesn’t compare to anything else you can find in Miami.
While living in their native Panama, the couple would travel to the United States multiple times a year. Each time they did, their family here would remind them to bring one thing and one thing only: coffee.
“That was the only thing they requested,” Olivardia said.
After moving to Miami just before the pandemic, Olivardia and Franco Moreno found a business opportunity in their love of Panamanian coffee.
T&F Coffee was born, initially as a wholesale business and later as a food truck that would pop up in different locations, mainly in Kendall, while the couple searched for a more permanent place to settle.
When their initial plans for a Coconut Grove location fell through, the couple stumbled upon a nearby lot that same day. The lot – then operating as Taste of Coco-Bahamas on Grand Avenue – became T&F Coffee’s permanent home, laying the foundation for what would become The Foodie Park Miami.
Foodie Park opened in late March at 3659 Grand Avenue as an open-air food hall and a cultural dining experience. Open daily, the venue offers an open-concept, multi-kitchen environment serving a variety of cuisines.
With multiple menus to choose from, a coffee truck and a cocktail bar, Foodie Park has a little bit of everything – Asian street food, artisanal French cheeses, traditional Panamanian dishes, and classic barbeque favorites with flavors and spices that honor the neighborhood’s Bahamian culture.
“This part of Coconut Grove has history, and we want to respect that,” said Patricia Lahera, marketing manager for Foodie Park.
The food at Foodie Park isn’t just “food truck food,” Olivardia insists. He says he is committed to delivering gourmet food at a reasonable price.
With the exception of Spoons BBQ, which is owned by business partner Anthony Witherspoon, the couple owns each trailer so they can control the quality of the products and the cooking procedures.
“That was one of the requirements while discussing business,” Olivardia said. “Just because it’s coming from a food truck doesn’t mean the food will be average at best.”
He said that along with a good quality-to-price ratio, the atmosphere sets the venue apart from other food spots in the Grove.
Each night brings something new to Foodie Park. With events like Taco Tuesday, Jazz Under the Stars every Thursday, Latin Night every Friday, and Sunday Brunch, customers can expect special menus and promotions, live music and a laid-back atmosphere throughout the week.
As the summer approaches, Lahera said she thinks Foodie Park’s concept is a perfect opportunity for families in the area, especially with the team’s plans to incorporate more kid-friendly play areas to the venue.
“To be honest, I think Coconut Grove is missing more open spaces for families,” she said. “I think this concept can bring a lot of light to this community.”
The open-air food park has room to grow, but the land where it now sits has also been proposed as the future site of the Grand Bahamas Place housing development, injecting a note of uncertainty into Foodie Park’s business plan.
Witherspoon, who leases the land, initially opened the site as Taste of Coco-Bahamas before inviting Olivardia to expand the concept. “The collaboration with Javier expands it to create a more multi-cultural cuisine, which the Grove is about,” Witherspoon said.
On a recent Friday night, Foodie Park celebrated Panamanian culture, drawing a large crowd to the venue. Similar events are planned for the future, Olivardia said.
Witherspoon, who also operates the nearby Coconut Grove Sports Hall of Fame and cultural tours of the Little Bahamas neighborhood through Tap Tap Tours, says proceeds from his ventures support his Leadership Prep Foundation.
With other developments in the works nearby along Grand Avenue and on Douglas Road – including pop-up pickleball courts a half block away on Grand Avenue – Witherspoon and Olivardia expects foot traffic in the neighborhood to grow.
“I think this area is going to be receiving a major upgrade,” Olivardia said. “Us being the only food venue in place here, we are betting to make good money.”
The Foodie Park at 3659 Grand Avenue near Douglas Road is open Tuesday through Friday from 4 to 10 p.m., Saturday from 12 noon to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit Foodie Park’s website at https://thefoodiepark.com/
