CIELO
Vendor
Where art meets flavor! At Cielo, we're passionate about serving up delicious drinks like aguas frescas, iced teas, matcha lattes, and chai, alongside tasty vegan snacks like empanadas and tropical muffins. All food and drinks are made at The Food Corridor, a commissary kitchen in St. Petersburg where Cielo has a contract.
Christian Sebastian
My name is Christian. I was raised in Mexico and moved to Iowa when I was 13 years old. I got my first job at 16 at Burger King, but my favorite job was working at a coffee shop—where my love for coffee and connecting with the community truly began.The idea of starting a business first sparked on a cold winter morning while I was reading You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero. She talks about creating income by doing what you love. At first, I thought that love was coffee and coffee shops—but when I dug deeper, I realized what I truly love is connection: meeting people, making friends, and building community. That’s how Cielo was born.Wanting to bring something new to the market, I took a long, liberating backpacking trip through Central and South America. Along the way, I met incredible people who welcomed me, showed me around, and shared their cultures with me. I visited countless coffee shops and restaurants, wrote reviews, learned traditions, and gathered recipes and ingredients that later helped me curate my menu. During this journey, I began visualizing the brand—how it would smell, look, taste, sound, and feel.The first introduction to my menu happened in my studio apartment, where I hosted a home café for 20–25 close friends. The only requirement was to leave an honest review. Their constructive feedback, love, and support pushed me to work harder and turn this dream into reality. Now, Cielo is here—ready to be shared with my Tampa Bay community.
