Why the Toast Coffee + Kitchen founder is betting on a quieter concept

Known for its lively brunch crowds and high-energy dining rooms, the team behind Toast Coffee + Kitchen is trying something different in East Setauket.

With The Study, founder Terence Scarlatos is introducing a quieter café concept designed as a community “third space” — a place to read, work, meet friends or simply linger over lunch, dinner or a cup of coffee.

Greater Long Island recently caught up with Scarlatos to talk about the inspiration behind The Study and whether it could become part of Toast’s future expansion.

Q: The Study is described as a “third space” for the community. Why do you think spaces like this are increasingly important in today’s culture, and what gap were you hoping to fill in East Setauket?

A: I think people are craving connection again. We spend a lot of time moving between work and home, but there are fewer places where you can just exist — read a book, meet a friend, or sit with a great cup of coffee without feeling rushed.

The idea behind The Study was to create that third space, where the pace slows down and the environment invites you to stay a while. East Setauket felt like the perfect community for that kind of space — intellectual, creative, and deeply rooted in tradition.

Q: Toast Coffee + Kitchen built a strong reputation around brunch and high-energy dining. What strategic thinking led you to develop a quieter, more contemplative concept like The Study?

A: Toast has always been about community, but it expresses itself in a lively, celebratory way — brunch, energy, conversation. With The Study, I wanted to explore a different rhythm.

Strategically, it allows us to extend the Toast brand into moments of the day where people want something quieter — morning coffee, afternoon meetings, creative work. It’s still rooted in hospitality, but the tempo is different.

Q: The Study offers “familiar quality, new tempo.” How do you balance maintaining the Toast brand identity while evolving into something distinct?

A: The foundation is the same: quality ingredients, thoughtful service, and a strong sense of place. What changes is the experience.

At Toast, the energy is bright and social. At The Study, the atmosphere is more reflective — soft lighting, cozy nooks, and a sense that time moves a little slower. It’s still unmistakably part of the Toast family, but it’s a different chapter in the story.

Q: The design of The Study seems to encourage people to linger — reading, meeting, or working. In a fast-paced food and beverage industry, why was it important to create a place where people might stay longer?

A: Hospitality isn’t just about serving food and coffee — it’s about creating an environment where people feel comfortable and inspired.

Some of the best ideas, conversations, and friendships happen when people aren’t rushing out the door. Designing a space that encourages lingering was very intentional. If someone spends an hour reading, writing, or catching up with a friend, that’s exactly the kind of experience we hoped to create.

Q: As someone who has built a beloved local restaurant brand, what have you learned about how physical spaces influence community connection?

A: Spaces tell stories. When people walk into a place, they immediately feel whether it has soul.

Over the years with Toast, I’ve learned that thoughtful design, warmth, and authenticity can turn a restaurant into a gathering place. The Study continues that philosophy — it’s meant to feel like a place that has always been part of the neighborhood.

Q: Looking ahead, do you see The Study as a singular neighborhood concept, or could it become a model for future locations as Toast continues to grow?

A: Right now, we’re focused on making this location something really special for the community.

But the idea behind The Study — creating spaces where people gather, think, and connect — has a lot of potential. If it resonates the way we hope it will, I can certainly imagine it becoming part of the broader vision for the Toast family in the future.