Maizal plans to begin a soft opening on Nov. 9 after holding a ribbon cutting Thursday at 2018 Habersham Street in Savannah’s Starland District. The Colombian cafe is near East 37th Street.
Shahin Afsharian, chief operating officer of Big Bon Hospitality, said he expects Maizal to be Savannah’s first fully gluten-free Colombian cafe. Its menu includes arepas, empanadas, plantains and Colombian coffee, as well as guava-and-cheese empanadas and gluten-free tres leches cake.
The business says its recipes avoid seed oils and use non-GMO ingredients and dairy without added hormones. It also plans to offer Colombian-inspired bowls, pastries, smoothies and specialty drinks.
The cafe is planned as a daytime business, with the space also available for private gatherings outside regular cafe hours. On Oct. 8, Savannah City Council approved special-use permits for a planned event venue and for on-premises alcohol consumption associated with catered private events.
Maizal’s concept developed over nearly three years. Afsharian said it grew from working with Colombian chef Marisol Borrego, whose homemade arepa inspired the idea. Big Bon Hospitality supported early pop-up events through its ghost-kitchen platform and later provided kitchen space and equipment as Borrego and her husband sold food at local farmers markets.
Yolonda Harris
News Now Georgia
