“Why Doesn’t San Carlos Have a Peet’s Coffee?”

July 12, 2010

Conspicuously Absent

It's a question that I seem to hear all the time.

There's no doubt that downtown San Carlos has a healthy appetite for caffeine.  How else could a town as small as this support no fewer than three Starbucks stores, as well as a host of other boutique coffee shops? (Speaking of which, I am still convinced that Plantation makes the best cappuccino in town.)    Combine this with the seemingly endless string of new restaurants opening up on Laurel Street, and you'd think there would be enough options for every caffeinated palate.

But there's one notable exception…

A Loyal Following

Coffee drinkers have preferences that are as strong as the coffee that they drink, and Peet's Coffee and Tea has a very loyal and growing customer base.  So I'm not surprised to hear people ask “Why doesn't San Carlos have a Peet's Coffee?”  At one time, it was widely rumored that a Peet's was going to open in the bottom-floor retail space at the 1001 Laurel Street condo complex.  But that doesn't appear to be happening.  So for now, fans need to schlep to Redwood City or Belmont to get their Peet's fix.

So what do you think?    Is there room in downtown San Carlos for one more coffee shop?   Would a Peet's Coffee survive in downtown San Carlos?  Hmmm, we haven't had a poll in a while on the site…

Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.

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6 Comments

  1. KT on July 16, 2010 at 5:01 am

    I love Peets. Plantation really does have great coffee.. but (and I hate to say this) it isn’t a great environment to hang out. What I would REALLY love to see is a good independent coffee shop , bigger, edgier, homier than Plantation.

    Perhaps something like Coupa Cafe in Palo Alto?



  2. JJ on July 16, 2010 at 4:25 pm

    Could not agree more. Coupa Cafe or Flying Goat (Hldsbrg) would be great. But…I would gladly settle for a Peets. It appears, though, that after all these years and available storefronts, Peets (as well as the others) has no interest in Laurel St.



  3. ken on July 17, 2010 at 4:33 am

    i agree with the others! a decent-sized cool-vibe independent coffee shop with wireless access would be a great addition. we really don’t have any great hangouts for youngish professionals in SC..



  4. Anonymous on July 19, 2010 at 6:20 pm

    BTW: Vanilla Moon (the cupcake place) makes an excellent espresso – much better than the starbucks a few doors down.



  5. Kimberly on July 21, 2010 at 9:26 pm

    Vanilla Moon makes excellent coffee — best in San Carlos. They also have free wireless and fantastic scones. I have no idea why anyone heads to Starbucks instead.



  6. Downtown SC Fan on July 23, 2010 at 8:35 pm

    I hear Vanilla Moon uses imported Italian Coffee from Rome. So they are definitely heading in a different direction than Starbucks or Peets.

    That may explain why some feel Vanilla Moon has the best coffee in San Carlos. And most people just remember them for the Cupcakes….. !



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