Late last year, Ybor City smoke shop Hot Wax expanded into the cafe game by opening a 2,500-square foot coffee shop at 1522 E 7th Ave. On Feb. 22, we saw what the space looks like when it’s hosting live music from bands like Katara Trio, which was joined by collaborators who helped add tunes to the district’s Monday night soundtrack.
In a text message to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, HotWax proprietors said that the cafe's policy is that a mask must be worn except when a person is eating or drinking. "It is somewhat difficult to enforce when people are continuously doing so but for the most part people are aware of the rules and abide by them," Hot Wax reps wrote. "We are visited often by the city and we have not received any warnings or citations as we are following all guidelines."
Katara Trio's next gig is a free show at Independent Bar in St. Petersburg, Florida on Friday, Feb. 26.—Ray Roa
