When The Empanada Girl first appeared at the Sarasota Farmers Market in March 2010, few shoppers knew what an empanada was. Founder and owner Stefania Fochi—a culinary school graduate with a love for the dish—started with just a handful of flavors and the goal of sharing food with her community. “There was nobody making empanadas in Sarasota. I'm Argentine, so empanadas are an integral part of our culture,” says Fochi. “I had gone to culinary school, and I was in the process of getting a business degree after my culinary degree, and the rest is history.”

Now, after more than a decade as a staple at the market, The Empanada Girl has officially planted deeper roots with the opening of The Empanada Girl Cafe, its new and first storefront. “I always loved being able to really respect the food and put love into it, and then serve people face to face at the market,” says Fochi. “I've always made everything from scratch, the dough, the fillings. Little by little, demand grew.” After buying a food truck for the business in 2023, she decided to open a permanent storefront this year.

While the space itself has been part of her family’s pasta business for more than 10 years, Fochi took over the ownership earlier this year, after her grandmother retired, and began transforming it into a modern, welcoming cafe centered around her signature dish. “I've essentially been tasked with making it current and fresh, bringing in new ideas, and just listening to what customers want, essentially, and then expanding on that. Now we're in a period of self-discovery,” she says.

As she continues to build her first brick-and-mortar business, Fochi is expanding its offerings. While empanadas remain the heart of the business—with more than 25 rotating flavors available—the cafe has also begun serving a range of espresso drinks and a selection of prepared meals like lasagna, chicken parmesan, meatballs, fresh salads and desserts, all made from scratch.

Looking ahead, Fochi plans to make The Empanada Girl Cafe just as much of a staple for the community as her food truck and tent are at the farmers market. “We're not just selling good food and empanadas. It's also about the community and the connection and finding people that are in alignment with that. So many people come to the store regularly, and part of it is the connections that we build,” she says.

The Empanada Girl Cafe, 4141 South Tamiami Trail, Unit 13, empanadagirl.com