Coastal Tea Cafe opened Thursday, Oct. 1, at 27 S. Fifth St. in downtown Fernandina Beach, adding a tea-focused cafe to the block just south of Centre Street.

Owner Tonya Blanchford celebrated the grand opening with a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. hosted by the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce. The cafe occupies a small yellow house that Blanchford transformed into a business after dreaming of opening her own place for years.

Blanchford, who has lived in Shanghai and Germany, told What Now in a May interview that her travels shaped the cafe's approach to tea.

"I love tea, and I've traveled the world drinking it. I've lived in Shanghai, I've lived in Germany, and there are a lot of places that don't serve tea quite the way it's supposed to be served. And tea lovers know it," Blanchford said.

The cafe offers 25 varieties of hot tea and four house-made iced teas, with the iced flavors rotating weekly. Coffee comes from a local roaster, while the food menu includes breakfast, lunch and baked goods such as biscotti and cookies.

Blanchford told What Now that she envisioned the cafe as a calm community gathering place where customers could sit, relax and enjoy a hot or cold drink.

The Nassau County Chamber of Commerce's grand-opening listing says the cafe is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Monday. It is closed Tuesdays.

The space also includes a Book Nook with used books and outdoor seating behind the house. Blanchford previously said the Book Nook would be stocked through a partnership with the local library.

Blanchford also created a Facebook community group called "Friends of Coastal Tea Cafe," where members can weigh in on decisions involving the cafe, according to What Now.

The Nassau County Chamber of Commerce lists the business at 27 S. Fifth St. and gives its phone number as (904) 556-7771.

Coastal Tea Cafe can be reached at (904) 556-7771 or [email protected].