The Berlin-themed coffee lounge and book bar Kreuzberg, CA will move from its Monterey Street home to 685 Higuera St., taking over what used to be the Golden China restaurant.
Angel Ritchie has worked at Kreuzberg, CA since its opening 10 months ago and is now the floor manager. She said it always planned on moving sites, since the Monterey building is not retrofitted for earthquakes and the business was looking to expand in size, as well as be able to acquire a liquor license.
“We really got excited about the architecture of the building, and the location, and the size,” Ritchie said.
The Higuera Street building is done in 1950s art deco style and is approximately 6,000 square feet, which is almost double the space it has now, she said.
Ritchie said she doesn’t find parting from the Monterey Street building as too bittersweet, since the staff is so excited about the move and the new location, and each location has its own unique character.
“This place is really cool and everything, but that place (on Higuera Street) is ‘Let’s try it; let’s do it all again,'” she said. “The colors are amazing, the nooks are still there, but it’s in a fishbowl way … The whole front of the building is glass.”
Not only will Kreuzberg, CA have a new space, but it will adopt a full menu including breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as serving beer and wine. There is also a “pour over bar” where a line of coffee filters will be set up with cups under them, catching freshly made coffee as hot water is poured over filters. It will also have a stationary barista, she said, in addition to servers handling people in line, for those who are just there for a to-go cup of coffee.
“We’re going to have champagne brunches on Saturday and Sunday, awesome breakfast (and) awesome dinner,” she said.
Brooke Finan has been a barista at Kreuzberg, CA since it opened and went to college with the owner, James Whittaker. She said the coffee lounge and book bar is a place that brings the community together, and she hopes it stays this way. She said with the new location, it will be a part of Farmers’ Market culture too.
“The business is set up so that all the components that help (bring) people together and enjoy themselves — food, wine, beer, coffee — are all there,” Finan said.
She said Kreuzberg, CA’s atmosphere is a “new modern meets history” living room, where people are able to gather in nooks.
The new location, she said, is a “very underappreciated building and space,” and the old building has gone unloved.
“The next spot will be the full-fledged dream of everything,” Finan said. “The coffee shop by day, lounge by night.”
San Luis Obispo resident Ashley King has come to Kreuzberg, CA nearly every day since last Christmas Eve. She also brings her 5-year-old daughter and 8-month-old son with her, and said she enjoys being able to have her children read books while she drinks coffee and has “five minutes of heaven” to herself.
“You can come in here and meet a complete stranger but feel like you’ve known them for five years, and just sit down and have a conversation,” she said.
The only problem she can find with the new location is the parking. The Monterey Street building has meter parking on nearly all sides and the new location will require her to park on the street or in a parking complex.
“It’s the busiest part of downtown right there,” she said. “(With) the concentration of restaurants, the parking is very limited.”
She already drives 10 to 15 minutes daily to get a cup of coffee from Kreuzberg, CA but finds the quality more than makes up for it.
“Everybody that works here is always very personable and friendly, if they make a mistake they’re the first to admit it and fix the mistake, whatever that may be,” King said. “(For) James, the owner, his customer service and quality of product is number one, not the revenue.
She said she thinks it will be just as crowded in the new location once it starts serving alcohol and a full menu, but neither that nor the parking issue will stop her from coming.
“I’ll definitely show up more when its slower, so I have more space with the kids,” she said.
The new location will open Aug. 8.