Lake County News,California – Starbucks opens in Clearlake; more coffee shops in the planning stages

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Clearlake’s new Starbucks has opened its doors, with other coffee house projects also in the works and the potential for still more such businesses to be based in the city.

Starbucks, located next to Carl’s Junior on Dam Road Extension and next to the Walmart shopping center, was open for business on Monday.

Clearlake Mayor Dirk Slooten said the new store has 27 good-paying jobs.

“We’re really excited about it,” he said.

The work on the new coffee house broke ground in May. Originally reported as having a September opening date, City Manager Alan Flora said it encountered several delays.

Flora told Lake County News that the new Starbucks received its certificate of occupancy from the city earlier this month and had been training staff and going finalizing preparations since then.

Flora said that while there are many places in Clearlake that serve coffee, in addition to the Starbucks the city has just two other dedicated coffee shops: Sisters Coffeehouse, 14812 Olympic Drive, and Catfish Coffee at 14624 Lakeshore Drive.

Another coffee house project in the works is Mudslingers, approved by the planning commission earlier this year for a drive-thru and walk up coffee shop at 14760 Olympic Drive.

Flora said the city doesn’t have a firm date for when Mudslingers might open. Noting they are waiting on the city, he said the city’s plans for the first phase for the Burns Valley development are nearing completion and a bid will go out for the work.

Once that work is done — including installing the roadway, parking and utilities — Mudslingers will be cleared to build their store, Flora said.

Down the road, Marcel’s French Bakery & Cafe at 15090 Olympic Drive received planning commission approval in February for a new drive-thru in an existing building that previously housed a bakery.

Flora said Marcel’s is being held up by needing to complete certain requirements in the use permit conditions, primarily installation of curb gutter and sidewalk.

There also is the potential for other coffee house locations, Flora said.

“We have had some pretty serious talks with a couple of other national coffee brands, but nothing set in stone at this point,” Flora said.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.