The jaw-dropping footage of the newer model Volvo careening down University Avenue quickly became national news. That car ended its journey in front of the iconic Brevetti Farina coffee roaster inside of the Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company.
When the media descended upon Los Gatos to visit the cafe-in-shambles, I was even interviewed about it for a CBS San Francisco TV news report. I explained the coffee shop has been key to the lifeblood of the community. It’s been here now for more than 42 years. And it’s not going anywhere.
(Dinah Cotton / Los Gatan)
Since 1982
LGCRC founder Teri Hope shipped this roaster from Lecco, Italy, in 1984. Hope wanted to be able to get a good cup of local coffee, right here in Los Gatos.
Over the years, LGCRC has become a valued part of daily life here: amazing exotic beans roasted on-site, consistent brewing, live music and camaraderie made it the heartbeat of town. For many Los Gatans, a job here as barista was their first—as was the case with Hope’s daughter.
After Thanksgiving dinner…
A call came into Hope, on Thanksgiving night, while still at the table with her family: Better get down to the roaster. At least the turkey’s tranquilizing effects were kicking in. Hope, almost speechless, immediately began receiving texts and calls: Do you need any help?
People wondered, Was anybody hurt? Sadly, on Monday, the Los Gatan reported online that the driver of the Volvo had passed away. And a Los Gatos Lions Club official confirmed that he was a member of their local service organization. Luckily, no one else was hurt.
The major damage to the building’s wooden front and inside areas became visible after the dust settled. There was a hole in the floor, the plumbing was leaking, the piano demolished, the counter was gone, the brewing pots flattened, chairs and tables had been smashed, pastry cases were shattered, and broken bits of glass lay everywhere. Yet the roaster stood strong.
Plywood goes up
Hope’s son-in-law, Scott Nelson, who was at the Thanksgiving table when Hope got the call, was also there at the scene. A good friend of Nelson’s, Dan J. Boyd—who owns a local construction company—texted him as soon as he got word of the accident. Boyd’s daughter was in town and had notified him of the crash. Boyd’s company headquarters are located on University Avenue, so he had a crew based just down the street. Would they be able to come in and board up LGCRC? Yes. Again, stronger together.
The baristas were notified not to come in, yet many did. A fundraiser the Los Gatan set up in partnership with restaurateur Alex Hult and community member Roger Sanford to help the coffee shop rebound, including assisting employees, had raised more than $51,000 by press time. These funds will aid the temporarily unemployed baristas and kickstart the repairs.
Plywood went up to create a temporary façade, so the clean-up could begin. A large plastic sheet with a Christmas design on it was quickly spread out front, ahead of the parade. But there was something even better in the works.
The Artist
John Peck is a renowned realist painter and instructor based in Los Gatos. He is known for his classical portraiture and figure drawing. Peck graduated from the Florence Academy of Art, in Florence, Italy. He teaches portrait and figure drawing at Stanford University, Triton Museum of Art and the Pacific Art League. Peck offered to paint a temporary mural for the price of the materials.
The only stipulation Hope put onto Peck, a classically trained artist, was, “The town would not appreciate any nudes.” Peck proposed multiple concepts and the management team at LGCRC kicked several ideas around, too. The mural, aptly titled “Stronger Together,” will become a reality soon. After all, this is what the business does: helps the community become stronger together, one cup of coffee at a time. Stronger together.
(Dinah Cotton / Los Gatan File Photo)
It will take some time to repair and refurnish the cafe section where the roaster is located. Dylan Phillips, a member of the family that co-owns LGCRC, is looking into other locations where beans may be roasted off-site. This will ensure that customers will not go without freshly-roasted beans over the winter months while repairs are completed.
What does Hope have to say a few days after the crash?
“We are truly stronger together.”
And the town has proved her right.
