San Francisco Coffee is opening a new shop in Midtown Atlanta on March 25. The beloved local roaster with deep California roots will also launch a Druid Hills location later this year. This move marks another chapter for the 30-year-old business that helped shape Atlanta’s coffee culture.
The Love Story That Built a Coffee Legacy
Doug and Tanya Bond met in the late 1980s in Los Gatos, California. Both Jeep fans, they connected through the Bay Area Four-Wheel Drive Association. Tanya, a recent Georgia Tech graduate working for IBM, and Doug hit it off beyond their shared hobby. They fell in love, married, and eventually moved to Atlanta when Tanya took a job here.
The couple missed the relaxed coffeehouse vibe from back home. In the Bay Area, people gathered to sip quality coffee and watch beans roast. Atlanta lacked that scene at the time. In 1992 they decided to bring it themselves and opened San Francisco Coffee Roasting Company.
From First Shop to Atlanta Staple
They started in Vinings in a former Ben and Jerry’s space. Doug set up a 12-kilo roaster with help from local coffee expert John Martinez. They partnered with Buckhead Bread Company for food. The shop quickly became a neighborhood spot.
By 1994 they moved the flagship to Virginia Highland at North Highland and Amsterdam avenues. A Poncey Highland location followed in 2001 inside an art gallery. Candler Park opened in 2008 along DeKalb Avenue. The Poncey Highland shop closed in 2019 after a nearby fire.
Today the company runs shops in Virginia Highland, Candler Park, and a location at Georgia Tech. They roast all their beans in house at the Virginia Highland store. This hands-on approach sets them apart in a city now filled with coffee options.
What the New Midtown Location Will Offer
The Midtown shop opens tomorrow inside Loria Ansley at 1441 Peachtree Street NE. The Bonds have eyed this central spot for years. Its location near offices, MARTA, and students makes it perfect for grab and go or longer stays.
Expect the classic San Francisco Coffee look with local art on the walls. Digital menu monitors will replace traditional chalkboards. An expansive front patio with outdoor seating along Peachtree will give people a place to linger.
Doug Bond said it will be a spot where people come for meetings or casual chats. The customer base stretches beyond just residents to workers and visitors throughout the area.
Druid Hills Plans Show Continued Growth
Later this year the company will open in Druid Hills at Sage Hill shopping center off Briarcliff Road. The space once housed a SunTrust Bank. It offers room to expand their bottled coffee production and food menu.
Doug has called the project exciting. He and Tanya embrace risks after three decades in business. The new site will bring their community focused model to another key Atlanta neighborhood.
Current Locations to Visit Now
- Virginia Highland: 1192 North Highland Avenue. Flagship with on site roasting. Open daily with extended weekend hours.
- Candler Park: 1660 DeKalb Avenue. Cozy neighborhood feel.
- Georgia Tech area: Gold and Bold at 315 Ferst Drive NW. Convenient for students and campus visitors.
Signature Drinks and Community Focus
Their San Francisco blend stands out as a dark roast with notes of vanilla, dried red berries, and smoke. Doug still experiments with new blends after all these years. Seasonal offerings like pistachio matcha, peach espresso drinks, and coconut cold brews keep things fresh.
The shops have always been more than places to grab caffeine. Book clubs meet there. Writers work on laptops. Neighbors catch up. Business ideas spark over cups. This community role helped the Bonds build loyalty that lasts.
Atlanta’s coffee scene has grown tremendously since 1992. National chains arrived, then local independents and third wave roasters followed. San Francisco Coffee remains a pioneer that roasts locally and keeps the focus on relaxed gathering spaces.
The expansion comes at a good time. Midtown continues developing with new residents and workers. Druid Hills offers a mix of established neighborhoods and shopping convenience. Both areas match the Bonds’ vision for accessible, welcoming coffee stops.
Bold key fact: They roast their own beans and make most food in house. This control over quality has kept customers coming back for over 30 years.
The couple’s journey from California Jeep club to Atlanta coffee entrepreneurs shows passion and timing. They saw a gap in the local scene and filled it with genuine West Coast inspiration adapted for Georgia tastes.
As the new shops prepare to open, Atlanta coffee lovers have fresh reasons to celebrate. The Midtown location especially will bring that signature relaxed vibe right into the heart of the city.
This growth proves that local businesses with strong roots can thrive and expand even in competitive markets. The Bonds built something special that resonates across generations of Atlantans.
What do you think about San Francisco Coffee’s latest expansion? Share your favorite memory from their shops in the comments below. Have you tried their signature blend yet?
