By Kathy L. Collins
Cool Beans is a neighborhood coffee shop located in Park Square in Lithia. In addition to serving great coffee, libations and food, Cool Beans is also home to some really cool original art created by Sarasota artist, Ron Genta.
Genta is a “household” name in many restaurants in the Sarasota area which is how Scott Corley, owner of Cool Beans, found him. “His art appealed to me. I knew I was building a restaurant and had to have some of his art in it.” Corley added, “I took a walk with Ron in Sarasota. We went to all of the different restaurants where his art is located. It was like walking with the Mayor of New York City. It was fun.”
All of the artwork is original and can be purchased directly from Genta who visited the site of the restaurant while it was being built to get the vibe of the restaurant.
Genta is a graduate of the Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota. Genta spent 20 years working and living in Hawaii. He creates boldly-designed colorful paintings that are fun. Genta’s artwork can be found in numerous private collections throughout the United States.
According to Corley, “Everything at Cool Beams from the floor mats to the hats the employees wear, reflects Genta’s original artwork that can be found throughout Cool Beans.”
Corley added, “Having art from a local artist sets us apart from others. I did not want people seeing commercial art that they had seen somewhere else. This is all original.”
The name “Cool Beans” accurately reflects the atmosphere at this fun, local and independent coffee shop. Since opening in May, the menu at Cool Beans has been expanded to include full lunch, and they offer cooked to order breakfast sandwiches.
All tips collected at Cool Beans are directly donated to the local non-profit, Seeds of Hope. To date $1,500 has been donated.
Cool Beans is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. It is open until 11 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Live music from local bands is offered Thursday through Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m.
For more information on Ron Genta’s artwork, please visit wwwrongenta.com You can like Cool Beans on Facebook@cooltothebean.
