Mobile cafe reaches new heights

Java Dawg owner Chris Keesecker purchased a 1979 double-decker Bristol bus on eBay seven months ago. Originally used in London and Chicago for sightseeing, the bus will serve as a mobile cafe for Java Dawg's coffee, fruit smoothies, espresso, cappuccino and more every Saturday at the Downtown Sarasota Farmer's Market, where it made its debut Aug. 29, at the corner of State Street and Lemon Avenue.

Keesecker has been roasting coffee in Sarasota for 17 years and has taken a concession cart (for Latitudes 23.5 coffee) to the farmer's market every week.

The new vehicle is a much bigger, bolder cafe than the one Keesecker has used in the past. A team of his friends and associates has been working tirelessly to gut, retrofit and paint it for the past seven months.

Customers may place orders at the window or inside the bus on the first floor and sip drinks beneath a shady umbrella on the second story, while viewing the farmer's market from the roof top.

"Java Dawg is the name for our new brand of coffee, a private-label venture from Latitudes 23.5 coffee," said Jay Davis, marketing director for Java Dawg. "We hope everybody loves it."


After seeing this innovative way to sip and savor Saturday morning java, we had to ask: Does coffee taste better inside Java Dawg’s two-story bus?

Dagyn Tow, who was drinking Gatorade instead of coffee.
“Yes, I love heights.”

Jack Windle  
“Its great! They always have excellent coffee. Very nice.”

Barney Salmon
“Java Dawg’s coffee is the best. This is great because it’s shady.”

Roy Hakes
“It’s great! There’s a tiny bit more breeze up here, so we’ll take it. Yep.”