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Josh Robayo, co-owner of Town and Country Kafe, stands on the grand staircase at the cafe and restaurant last week. (Margaux Binder/The Oglethorpe Echo) -
Willie Torres, co-owner of Town and Country Kafe, installs a speaker at the cafe and restaurant on Jan. 26, 2024. Torres has assisted with renovations to help the establishment open as soon as possible. (Margaux Binder/The Oglethorpe Echo) -
Town and Country Kafe neighbors Oglethorpe Children’s Academy. Due to the proximity, the cafe and restaurant will not serve alcoholic beverages. (Margaux Binder/The Oglethorpe Echo) -
Town and Country Kafe’s large exterior deck wraps around the building and features a grand staircase that leads down to the lawn. Customers can enjoy outdoor seating and views of the property from this area. (Margaux Binder/The Oglethorpe Echo) -
Town and Country Kafe's menu features Spanish-inspired food and beverages for under $10 each. Customers can enjoy these options when the cafe opens in the spring. (Margaux Binder/The Oglethorpe Echo)
WATCH: Town and Country Kafe tour
Construction on Town and Country Kafe is nearing completion, but its opening date is still pending, co-owner Josh Robayo said.
While there’s no exact date, Robayo said he expects the Spanish-inspired cafe and restaurant in Crawford will be fully open by spring. He hopes to have a soft opening by mid-February.
The decision to add additional features to the building delayed its soft and grand openings, originally scheduled for last November and December. The large exterior deck with a grand staircase has been the most significant factor in the extended construction time.
Additionally, a two-man construction team has been responsible for the majority of the project, with specialists coming in only as needed.
Robayo is opening Town and Country Kafe with his mother Amy Delfin-Torres and stepfather Willie Torres.
As this is the family’s first time working on a project of this scale, there has been a “learning curve,” Robayo said.
“You can’t foresee everything,” Torres said. “You can’t look around the corner unless you actually get to the corner.”
Other additions include exterior lighting, new flooring, a larger kitchen and more. The construction team will focus on installing appliances and expanding the parking lot.
Robayo and Torres have also been active in the renovation, installing speakers and Wi-Fi, and taking on other tasks to aid progress.
The building previously served as a corporate office space, so it required a drastic and careful remodeling, Robayo said.
“We're doing everything by the book, and we're not cutting corners,” he said.
Linda Parish, office manager for the Oglethorpe Chamber of Commerce, said she hopes Town and Country Kafe will be a catalyst for other restaurants to open in the area. With limited local dining options, the community is in need of sit-down restaurants, she said.
“Anything that brings people together is a good thing, and it looks like a gathering place,” she said.
Customers can expect Spanish-inspired food and beverages.
Among other items, the menu includes empanadas, which are half-moon shaped sweet or savory dough pastries, and Cuban coffee, which is a strong and sweet type of espresso.
Each menu item will be sold for under $10. Delfin-Torres, who is originally from Venezuela, will be the primary chef.
Located next to Oglethorpe Children’s Academy, the cafe and restaurant will not serve alcoholic beverages.
Melanee McGee, owner of OCA, said Robayo and his family are “great neighbors.”