Coffee Talk

Coffee Bean Looking to Throw Down With Peet’s and Starbucks in the Castro

A rendering of the proposed expansion of the gym building, with rental units upstairs.
A rendering of the proposed expansion of the gym building, with rental units upstairs. Photo: via Planning

It’s been over a year since we first reported that Starbucks is attempting to open their second location (third if you count the Safeway branch) in the Castro, on the triangular lot at Market and Sanchez currently occupied by The Industrialists. Now we learn that yet another coffee chain is looking to enter the fray just up the street: The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Castro Biscuit picks up the news that the Coffee Bean is looking to move in to the former vitamin store at the corner of Noe and Market beneath Fitness S.F. (formerly Gold’s Gym). But this is all part of a much bigger development plan that includes the expansion of the gym and the construction of residential units on new floors above it, so this is likely to take a while. Meanwhile, a petition is circulating from local merchants to stop Starbucks from getting that new location, and that project has yet to hit the Planning Commission docket. [Castro Biscuit]

Coffee Bean Looking to Throw Down With Peet’s and Starbucks in the Castro