Drift Coffee & Kitchen has signed a lease for a 1,755-square-foot space at HUB RTP in Raleigh, joining the lineup of tenants who have already announced deals this year, including Cheeni and Prime STQ.
Founders Michael and Ben Powell launched the brand with “health-ful” food in mind. Michael told What Now Charlotte that the cafe culture he witnessed in Asia and Australia when he was a surfer sparked the idea. The cafes and coffee shops under the brand are designed with holistic health — physical, emotional and social — in mind.
“Our mission is to inspire modern wellness through coffee, food and connection and making our guests feel like regulars,” Michael said.
Drift Coffee & Kitchen has two models: cafes that offer table service and larger menus, and coffee shops. The location at HUB RTP will follow the coffee shop format, focusing on simple, well-made coffee drinks as well as a menu of fresh, made-to-order food.
“The taste of the space is something people really enjoy about our experience,” Michael said. “It feels like a nice lived-in apartment or lounge. We try not to adulter the space with too many frivolous unnecessities. We use a lot of neutral tones and make it clean and inviting so that people can be present in that space and enjoy what’s right in front of them.”
The team is targeting a summer 2025 opening. Michael said they are looking forward to serving the office environment at HUB RTP as well as the surrounding residents.
“We like branching out and serving more people because we felt how much it impacted our life when we first visited these places in Australia. And we see that in the various locations that we operate how people interact with what we do,” Michael said. “Here, we expect to be able to serve the office and all the workers who come into RTP on a daily basis.”
