Trump trial: Will he make surprise visit to Fort Pierce Cuban cafe like he did in Miami?

Former President Donald Trump will be coming to Fort Pierce for his criminal trial at the federal courthouse.

Will he stop by Mervis’ Cafe, a nearby Cuban restaurant, like he did Versailles in Miami after his formal arrest, booking and arraignment in June?

“It would get a lot of attention,” said Mervis' Cafe owner Ivel Sierra. “It would be cool, but I think it’s going to be a madhouse for a couple weeks.”

Trump's trial is set for Aug. 14, but prosecutors requested a delay until December, and Trump's lawyers requested a delay indefinitely. The judge hasn't ruled on either request yet. Trump won't attend the first hearing in his case Tuesday regarding how the court will handle classified documents that will be presented during his trial.

Sierra said he's already seen a slight increase in business from behind-the-scenes work being done at the Alto Lee Adams Sr. U.S. Courthouse at U.S. 1 and Orange Avenue near downtown.

Workers who are making sure there’s enough security in the area have been patronizing the cafe, which is just a few minutes’ walk from the federal courthouse. He said he expects even more new customers in the coming weeks.

“I know there’s going to be an increase in traffic,” Sierra said. "I’m sure when the hoards of reporters come the next month, they’ll probably come in and have a bite to eat and have coffee."

Sierra said he'll find a way to make the 80-seat restaurant run smoothly if it gets busier by doing more prep work and baking more of the popular pastelitos — flaky breakfast pastries, commonly filled with guava or guava and cream cheese.

Trump stopping by would give the small restaurant a little recognition, Sierra said. People might be more curious to check out Mervis’ Cafe if a former president had been there.

Still, he’s not planning any Trump specials.

“I’d offer him a Cuban sandwich because that’s what we’re known for,” Sierra said.

If Trump prefers, Sierra would offer him roast pork with rice and beans because that’s also a traditional Cuban dish.

“I’d give him a complimentary colada,” Sierra said, referring to a Cuban espresso with several shots in it, “but I don’t think he needs any more energy. He always has energy.”

The area around the federal courthouse and the surrounding businesses can handle the extra traffic, Sierra said. When the courthouse opened in 2011, it was hoped to be an economic boost, but that didn't happen.

“It’s nuts how it hasn’t really done much for the community how people thought it would,” Sierra said.

Trump's trial will bring that boost, Sierra said. And he expects the courthouse to stay busier even after Trump's trial, since U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, of Vero Beach, was assigned to the Fort Pierce courthouse in 2020.

But Trump didn't spend any money at Versailles when he and his motorcade stopped by the Cuban restaurant in Miami. Instead of eating, Trump engaged in prayer, in English and Spanish, with others in the restaurant.

Laurie K. Blandford is TCPalm's entertainment reporter and columnist dedicated to finding the best things to do on the Treasure Coast. Follow her on Twitter @TCPalmLaurie and Facebook @TCPalmLaurie. Email her at laurie.blandford@tcpalm.com. Sign up for her What To Do in 772 weekly newsletter at profile.tcpalm.com/newsletters/manage.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Trump trial: Will he visit Mervis' Cuban restaurant in Fort Pierce?