Farley's East Expanding To Mark Its Eighth Anniversary In Uptown

Farley's East Expanding To Mark Its Eighth Anniversary In UptownPhotos: Walter Thompson/Hoodline
Walter Thompson
Published on February 17, 2017

Uptown café Farley's East is in the midst of expanding into a former Subway located next door; according to co-founder Chris Hillyard, the extra room will give the third-wave roaster an opportunity to expand its menu, staff and kitchen operations.

Hillyard told Hoodline that the sandwich shop closed suddenly last September. “We’ve always said if there was ever the opportunity to expand into that space we’d talk to our landlord about it.” Today, Farley's East has about 1600 square feet, but the ongoing work "will add another thousand.”

Farley's co-founder Chris Hillyard.

Farley's East has operated at 33 Grand Ave. for 7.5 years and was one of the first businesses to step into what its web site describes as a “once ghost-town.” Today, several restaurants and shops line the block, and new office and residential development provide a steady stream of customers.

“We’ll have a larger kitchen now,” said Hillyard. “That’s one of the main drivers for the expansion,” he said. “There are so many businesses around here that want lunchtime catering, but we have space constraints around that at the moment.”

With a larger kitchen, “we’ll also be able to offer a broader food offering as well in the café,” he added. Plans call for beer and wine on tap, as well as additional seating. Today, Farley's East employs 22 people, but “we’ll add a few more positions with the expansion,” Hillyard said.

If the project’s done on schedule, the expanded coffeehouse will open this summer. “We’re hoping June 18, that’s our anniversary,” said Hillyard. “We’ll see.”

Farleys East (510-835-7898) is open from 7–9 Monday to Friday and from 8–9 on weekends.