Finca to Filter Cafe Closes in Atlanta’s West End

Bellman said she has no plans to reopen Wild Heaven’s counter because the cost of the changes required by FCBOH is “simply not feasible for a small business like ours in a pinch.”

Bellman opened the Finca will screen the outpost at Wild Heaven West End in 2021. The boutique has become known for its “queer and caffeinated” motto and its focus on creating a welcoming space. Last In September, Finca to Filter expanded with a solo brick-and-mortar location at 652 Angier Ave. in Old Fourth Ward. This location will remain open, and Bellman is moving forward with plans to open another cafe this year in the Boulevard Heights neighborhood, which will include a frozen dessert stand and an adjacent wine bar.

After Bellman announced Wild Heaven’s abrupt closure, the community rallied around the store and its staff by starting a GoFundMe for displaced staff members, she said. About half of the employees will be transferred to the Old Fourth Ward site.

“I will think very fondly of Finca’s time in the West End and this community,” Bellman said. “I could tell you who my first customer was and who our last customer was. There (are) such happy moments between the two.

Bellman has extended hours at the Old Fourth Ward location and she plans to add more menus. items, like breakfast sandwiches and afternoon treats, which will all manufactured in-house.

About two months ago, Bellman launched a natural wine program at Finca to Filter’s Old Fourth Ward to showcase his upcoming wine and cocktail bar, Side Saddle Wine Saloon. Side Saddle will focus on drinks from “BIPOC, queer and women wine and spirits producers,” Bellman said. On May 30, they will host a fundraising evening for West End staff members. Throughout June, the cafe will host weekly Pride Flight Nights featuring LGBTQ+ wine producers to give attendees a “taste of the rainbow,” she said.

Bellman said she on track to open Finca to Filter in Boulevard Heights, at 680 Hamilton Ave., in the fall. The space will feature three concepts across two buildings, including an 1,800-square-foot Finca to Filter cafe and Banana Stand frozen dessert concept, and an 800-square-foot connecting building that will house the Side Saddle Wine Saloon. Both concepts will have large outdoor terraces.

Credit: Finca to filter

Credit: Finca to filter

Despite the setback in the West End, Bellman said she feels “optimistic” about next year. And as a final celebration, Finca will host one final Brewhaha Drag Bingo in the West End with performances from Taylor Alexander on June 18.

Subscribe to the AJC Food and Dining newsletter

Read more stories like this in I like Atlanta Restaurant Scene on Facebookfollowing @ATLDiningNews on X And @ajcdining on Instagram.