Càphê Roasters is opening a new location in South Philadelphia, more than twice the size of the original

Càphê Roasters, the Vietnamese coffee shop whose weekend crowds have outgrown its Kensington café, is expanding to South Philadelphia.

Cofounders Thu Pham and Raymond John, along with partner Abraham Kwon, plan a second location next spring in the Grays Ferry area, in Herringbone Lofts, a former men’s suit factory, at 2501 Oakford St.

The cafe will also maintain its expansion plans across the street in Kensington, which have been delayed by a pause in construction.

At 5,685 square feet, Càphê Roasters South will be more than twice the size of the original at 3400 J St., with 80 to 90 seats, a larger kitchen, room for private events, and, for the first time, third-party delivery.

Pham, whose original café marks its fifth anniversary Friday, said the expansion would be about more than adding tables. It will bring the business closer to South Philadelphia’s Vietnamese American community and give longtime employees opportunities to advance.

“We’ve always wanted to open more than one location,” Pham said. “But we’ve also wanted to grow into other neighborhoods that have some meaning to us.”

Two Càphê employees, both South Philadelphia locals, will help launch the café: Five-year veteran Minh Tran will be head chef, and Phat Tang will be general manager.

The project has been in the works for nearly two years, since Matt Ryan, Chris Mrozinski, and Ed Glickman of Herringbone Lofts approached Pham about space in the building, which was converted into 54 apartments.

Càphê began in 2018 as a roasting operation at MaKen Studios in Kensington, supplying beans to cafés and selling coffee online. Pham and John opened the J Street café, on Kensington Avenue under the El, on Oct. 16, 2021, serving Vietnamese specialty coffee, matcha, egg coffee, breakfast sandwiches, congee, and bánh mì on Ba Le Bakery rolls.

The café was named a 2025 James Beard Award semifinalist for Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program.

Its popularity has created operational challenges that the Grays Ferry addition should help ease. While the Kensington café has hosted baby showers, proposal parties, and weddings, the staff has had to turn down requests for larger gatherings.

“We’re getting inquiries for events with 100 people,” Pham said.

The bigger kitchen will be equally important. Kensington lacks even a walk-in refrigerator. South Philadelphia will have both a walk-in refrigerator and freezer, allowing for more catering.

Capacity has also prevented Càphê from offering delivery through outside apps. Pham said some customers have resorted to hiring couriers to pick up their Kensington orders.

The new café’s menu will resemble the original’s. Beans will continue to be roasted in Kensington and delivered weekly. Càphê now roasts more than 1,000 pounds weekly, up from roughly 300 pounds in its early years, Pham said.

Brittany Ewing and Telsa Love of CosciaMoos Architecture are designing the café with a central coffee bar, communal tables, banquettes, lounge seating, and a community bulletin wall. Zoe DeLay, named head pastry chef in May, is developing a standardized pastry program. Initial hours will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. six days a week.

Meanwhile, another Càphê project in Kensington has faced delays. The partners announced plans last year to convert the former Harrowgate Theatre, across from the current café, into a full-service Vietnamese restaurant, expanded roastery, and brewery that will be operated with a Korean brewery.

Construction was paused, Pham said, but she was notified last week that it would resume. She now projects an opening in late 2027 or early 2028.

The expansion also extends a community-oriented model tied to John’s education nonprofit, 12 Plus, whose alumni have worked for Càphê and which receives a portion of the company’s profits.

Pham said advancement of Càphê employees was the most important part of the expansion.

“The fact that South Philly has meaning to them is important to me,” she said. “It’s exciting to open a space where they can work in their own neighborhood, or a neighborhood they care deeply about.”