A new sweets shop has opened on Manitou Avenue — the Manitou Sweet Spot, to be exact.

The dessert shop and café opened in March in the heart of Manitou Springs, tucked between the Sahara Café and Kinfolks at 952 Manitou Ave.

The food menu highlights house‑made mini pancakes, pingpong‑shaped pancake “sweet pops,” brownie bites and croissants. Customers can pile on toppings including fresh fruit, Fruity Pebbles, pistachios, Nutella and sprinkles. On the savory side, the café offers flatbreads in flavors such as za’atar, mozzarella and salmon.

The drink menu includes classic coffees, dirty sodas, dirty lemonades, energy refreshers, teas and smoothies. The coffee is supplied by Denver‑based roaster Dazbog.

Co‑owners Feda and Kamil Elwazeir, who have lived in Colorado Springs for about 27 years, said they long dreamed of owning a shop on the Manitou strip. When the space opened, they jumped at the chance to bring a fresh concept to town.

The family spent the past six months renovating the space to bring it up to code for a café and dessert shop. The storefront, once home to the Southwest Silver Company and later, the short‑lived Otis’s BBQ, has been completely transformed. Travis Bright, who worked in the space back when it was a rock shop, said the change feels almost unrecognizable.

Bright ordered one of the shop’s most popular treats: the Dubai chocolate strawberry cup, layered with pistachio kataifi cream, Nutella and strawberries.

The Elwazeirs previously owned and operated Arabica Café in downtown Colorado Springs from 2008 to 2011, when they sold the business. According to previous Gazette reporting, everything at Arabica was made from scratch — a standard the family is carrying on at the Manitou Sweet Spot. They aim to offer healthier alternatives to ingredients such as corn syrup, sourcing fresh, organic ingredients, including their fruit purées.

The shop’s decor highlights Manitou Springs and Colorado attractions, with wood‑carved signs depicting the Manitou Incline and Pikes Peak, created by a local artist.

“We want to bring a new concept to Manitou and create an atmosphere that’s welcoming and cozy,” Feda Elwazeir said. “Visitors coming down from the Incline can stop in to relax and hang out.”

The family launched a soft opening ahead of the tourist season and may eventually partner with local bakeries and hire beyond the family. For now, the Elwazeirs’ sons help run the counter as they introduce themselves to the community.

“We are humble to be in the city of Manitou Springs,” Kamil Elwazeir said. “Our doors are open. It’s a place for everybody. It’s the spot.”

If You Go
Manitou Sweet Spot
Price: $$
Hours: Open daily 9:30 a.m.– 6 p.m.; owners say they hope to open earlier on weekends
Location: 952 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs, CO 80829
Contact: 719‑755‑4844