Shared love of food brings people together at Atria Cafe, a new breakfast and lunch spot
Jim and Weyli Angus had hoped to open Atria Cafe by the end of January or early February. But as any business owner will tell you, these things often take longer than expected.
In the interim, Atria’s website, richly illustrated with artisan breads, stirred great interest in the community and created a large following, even before the restaurant opened in the Shoppes at Business Park, 4120 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., on Sept. 1.
“After the first week, we had sold way more bread than we anticipated,” Jim Angus said.
Angus had to scour his contacts and suppliers to quickly find more of the heritage wheat grain that he uses to craft The Rustic, Atria’s signature loaf.
“We use only special varieties of wheat that have not been genetically modified,” he said.
A native of New Jersey, Angus worked as a chef for about 12 years before he and Weyli opened Atria. Baking bread became a passion and a object lesson in trial and error.
“My first loaf was terrible. But I kept making it, and it kept getting better and better,” he said. “All of our breads go through a 24-hour fermentation cycle. All are made with a sourdough starter. We actually fresh mill about 20 percent of wheat grain into our breads every day. It is super nutrient dense, really flavorful and easy to digest.”
The premise for opening Atria was that the area needed a craft coffee and artisan bread shop, but the owners have taken it well beyond that. Atria has become a vibrant breakfast and lunch spot.
“The reception has been fantastic. We built a good following and support before opening. We were doing farmers markets and it felt like Atria was well anticipated when we opened the doors,” said Weyli, a native of Boston.
The couple seek to pair warm hospitality with high quality food.
“Come in under nourished and leave refreshed and happier than when you came in. Our staff does a great job of making that happen,” Jim said. “We are continuing to make this an excellent experience for our guests.”
Adds Weyli: “Hospitality and a warm, welcoming environment are our hallmarks.”
The couple is planning to add more food items to the menu in November and to continue growing their catering business.
The business’s name, Atria, refers to how the bakery is showcased inside the shop. “You are let into the process on how it is being made,” Jim said.
Atria also refers to the heart, Jim said, a reference to the friendly atmosphere the shop exudes.
Atria’s philosophy is summed up this way:
“We love food. We love people. Food is a universal language that brings people together. We can’t wait to share our space and food with you.”
Atria is open 8 a.m.- 3 p.m. daily except Monday. For more information, call 941-751-1016 or visit atria.cafe/.
This story was originally published October 24, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
