There's a pink vintage trailer parked in the courtyard of Bunny's Florals at 31 Schwab Road. It sits next to a flower garden, a scatter of antique furniture and 23 seats under umbrellas. It serves espresso drinks with punny names, and it's open from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday through Sunday.
That's a short schedule for a coffee spot, and the shortness is the point. The Caffeinated Bunny was built as an extension of a flower shop, so its season follows the shop and the weather more than any coffee-shop routine. Its first year started in November and paused after the holidays. Its second fall is underway now, which makes the next several weekends the best time to fit it into your week.
The flower shop came first, by about half a century
Bunny's Florals has been in the Johnson family for 51 years. It has been on Schwab Road for the last 25. The name honors owner Judy Johnson's mother, whose nickname was Bunny. Over time the property has grown into more than a florist. Inside you'll find plants, candles, jewelry, giftware, matches and trinkets at a range of prices, plus a flower bar where you can build your own bouquet. The shop also sells floral subscriptions.
The coffee came much later. Newsday describes Johnson as a self-proclaimed "espresso junkie" who sees the cart as an add-on to the floral business. She got the idea from seeing similar setups do well on her trips overseas. Greater Long Island traces it back to small cafés she found while traveling, especially a tiny spot in Turks and Caicos. She told the outlet that in Europe "you sit down and you just have a cup of coffee and a little piece of cake, then off you go."
None of the coffee trucks she looked at matched that picture. "I said, 'I need something vintage,'" she told Greater Long Island. She found the trailer on Facebook Marketplace. She and her husband, Roger, peeled off the original wrap and redid the outside themselves. The two outlets describe the colors a little differently. Greater Long Island calls it pink and mauve, and Newsday calls it pink and teal.
Starting with the flower shop explains how the place works. The trailer was meant to bring people into the shop and give them a reason to stay. Johnson described the result to Newsday:
"People come in, they make their own bouquets, they go shopping inside and they'll sit for hours and have a couple of espressos and just enjoy their time and relax."
What's on the menu
The menu is short, and it changes with the season. Here's what the two local reports describe:
- Cuddle Bunny: hot chocolate with whipped cream and chocolate chips.
- Thumpa: a quad shot over ice with sweet cold foam.
- Baked goods: Newsday credits the sweets to The Gluten Free Treat Shop in Massapequa. Greater Long Island says Johnson works with a local baker on muffins and cookies, the selection changes every week, and the gluten-free items are popular.
- Fall drinks: Greater Long Island reported in mid-September that a new fall lineup was coming for spooky season. Newsday's late-September piece said Johnson planned to add seasonal flavors, including pumpkin spice. Neither report names the fall drinks or confirms they're on the board yet, so ask at the window.
Johnson told Greater Long Island the drinks are handcrafted and made fresh with good flavored syrups. Since the baked goods rotate weekly, a muffin you liked on a Thursday in September may not be there in October.
Four mornings, about 22 hours a week
Newsday lists hours of 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday through Sunday. That adds up to roughly 22 hours a week. The trailer is closed Monday through Wednesday, and every day it closes by early afternoon.
Greater Long Island adds some flexibility. It describes the hours as generally 8:30 a.m. to 2 or 3 p.m., depending on the day and how long customers linger. Johnson plans to keep adjusting the schedule for weather and demand through the fall. If you're planning a late-morning visit, check the trailer's Instagram, @thecaffeinatedbunny_, first.
Those limits shape the visit. This isn't a weekday stop on the way to the office. It fits a Thursday or Friday morning off, or the first part of a weekend, and staying awhile is welcome. Johnson told Greater Long Island she's more than happy to have customers sit outside with their drinks instead of grabbing a coffee and leaving. Newsday describes the courtyard as family- and pet-friendly, with wind chimes and music playing.
The calendar so far
Because all the seating is outdoors, the weather sets the season more than any business plan. Here's the first year, pieced together from both reports, which were published in September and use relative dates:
| Period, as the reports describe it | What happened |
|---|---|
| "Last summer" | Johnson bought the trailer on Facebook Marketplace |
| November | The trailer officially opened |
| Holiday season | Stayed open through the holidays |
| Winter | Took a break |
| April | Reopened for the season |
| "This summer" | Went viral on social media |
| This fall | Second fall season, with Johnson planning to stay open through fall |
What happens this winter is still open. Johnson told Greater Long Island she isn't ruling out an outdoor season that runs into winter. "We're going to see how it goes because it's supposed to be a really mild winter," she said. She'd add a few heaters to keep people seated outside. So the coffee might run past the holidays this year, but no one has committed to that. October and November are the months both reports put firmly inside the season.
What's planned for October
In September, Johnson told Greater Long Island she planned to decorate the courtyard with cornstalks and plenty of pumpkins. She also hopes to offer pumpkin decorating for kids and adults, plus broom decorating, and to run pink-themed activities through October.
These are plans, and they could still change. Neither report gives dates for the decorating sessions or the pink-themed events. The trailer's Instagram is the best place to check before you go.
The grounds have hosted events before. Greater Long Island reported a sold-out coffee-and-cake night with music and several local vendors, including a permanent jewelry maker and a candle maker. Johnson said she'd like to host more events and may bring back live music on future weekends. The first event sold out, so keep an eye out for the next announcement.
A Saturday morning there
Here's a simple way to spend a fall morning at 31 Schwab Road, using only what the shop offers:
- Get there close to the 8:30 a.m. opening, while the 23 courtyard seats are still easy to find.
- Order a Thumpa for yourself and a Cuddle Bunny for anyone who'd rather skip the espresso. Then ask which baked goods came in that week.
- Walk into the shop and build a bouquet at the flower bar. It's an easy hostess gift or something for your own kitchen table.
- Browse the candles, jewelry and giftware before you head out.
- If you have a bigger occasion coming up, ask about arrangements or a floral subscription.
The Bunny's Floral website lists the Schwab Road address and is the place to order arrangements. For the trailer's schedule from week to week, Instagram is the better bet.
Small family businesses like Bunny's Florals, which has spent 25 years on Schwab Road and 51 years in the same family, are part of what we love about working in Melville. If you're curious what your own Melville home is worth these days, the Robyn Schatz Team is happy to talk it over, and we know a good spot nearby for coffee. Get Your Free Home Valuation.
