Sunlight pours through the glass windows of Coterie Market, casting a warm glow on pastel decor and shelves stocked with locally made goods. The aroma of pastries and sugary drinks is a welcome invitation to stay there for as long as needed.
After closing its original location in May 2024 to take a break and gather inspiration, founders Kate Yeung and Braden Ramirez soft-reopened Coterie Market in April.
The new location is a larger space a short walk from campus at 1025 W. University Ave. The expanded venue blends cafe culture with an artisan shop showcasing small-batch, locally sourced products.
The French word “Coterie,” which means a small group of people united by shared interests or tastes, reflects the community the couple aim to build, Yeung said.
With the fall semester approaching, Coterie Market is preparing to welcome a fresh wave of students and locals by prioritizing efficiency. The owners will hire employees to help with the incoming onslaught of foot traffic and to ensure they can keep up with demand while maintaining the shop’s welcoming atmosphere.
“Right now we have been working 24/7 on making the process more efficient and the workflow better, so when we hire employees, which is pretty soon, we have to train them in time for the huge influx of students,” Yeung said.
She wants orders prepared quickly because students don’t have time to wait for a snack between classes, she said. Since many of the shop’s drinks feature complex flavor combinations, they take a bit longer to make.
“We like to incorporate different flavor profiles or ingredients that I feel like you wouldn’t really see here as much, especially not in Gainesville,” she said.
New menu additions include cheddar chive corn scones served with miso honey butter, matcha and white chocolate cookies, and ube croissants drizzled with white chocolate. Yeung’s current favorite is the banana matcha drink, she said.
The demand for extra help stems not just from the cafe but also the curated selection of locally made goods. Customers can shop for art prints, handmade jewelry, clothes, stationery, cute collectables and specialty snacks.
Vendor applications are currently open. Many items come from small local businesses.
Jenn Maresca, the 32-year-old owner of Gainesville-based embroidery company Made by Maresca, sells custom-embroidered clothing and “unhinged hats” at Coterie Market.
The hats are “a little bit like inside thoughts becoming outside thoughts,” she said.
Coterie Market feels more like a community hub than a retail space to Maresca.
“It definitely is one of the places that feels very safe and inclusive,” Maresca said. “I think, as a queer person in a conservative state, it's nice to walk into a place and immediately be like, ‘This is a place where I don't have to worry about negative perceptions or anything like that.’”
The market’s exposure brings in customers who may not have known about Maresca’s products.
“It's amazing to have our stuff posted on a nice, big platform and have our stuff visible for students,” she said. “I think a lot of people have seen us that might not have seen us otherwise.”
The visibility is especially important in a college town, where many students discover local businesses for the first time, she said. For Maresca, Coterie is both a place to sell her work and a platform connecting small creators with conscious consumers.
“Personally, morally, ethically, small business is best,” she said.
The market is more than a convenient coffee stop. It’s a place for students to meet, study and connect with the Gainesville community while they discover one-of-a-kind products they won’t find anywhere else.
Justin Fernandez, a 21-year-old UF psychology senior, is a regular at Coterie Market after learning about the shop his freshman year.
“I didn’t think there was a place like this in Gainesville,” he said. “It's special in my heart, because it is a call back to my freshman year — and now into my senior year, I can see them again. That matters to me. It feels super, super full circle.”
He was drawn to the Asian-inspired beverages and snacks, feeling kinship with Yeung’s similar cultural background. Fernandez’s favorite items at Coterie are the calendars with snake designs sold by thanksxu, he said.
The shop’s atmosphere keeps him coming back, he said, and he loves the space.
“The owners care about you being there,” he said.
The sense of connection to the people behind the counter and the artists on the shelves makes the experience feel personal for the customers.
“It's nice to support local, because you won't be able to support them anywhere else,” Fernandez said. “These are Gainesville people. If you're proud to be a Gator, you should be proud to support your city, too.”
Contact Isis Snow at isnow@alligator.org. Follow her on X @snow_isisUF.
Isis Snow is a junior sports journalism student and a general assignment reporter for The Avenue. She enjoys reading and working out whenever she has the opportunity.
