Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters, the Cow Hollow cafe founded by Trish Rothgeb in 2011, is finally growing beyond its single storefront. The company plans to open a second cafe in Potrero Hill this December, a third cafe in Berkeley, and a dedicated roasting facility in Dogpatch by late 2027.
The expansion, first reported by The San Francisco Standard, marks a dramatic turnaround for a company that currently operates one cafe in Cow Hollow. Wrecking Ball once ran two San Francisco cafes and a roastery on Folsom Street, but shrunk down to the Union Street location during the pandemic, according to the outlet's reporting. Roasting has since been handled by a third party under Rothgeb's direction.
The new Potrero Hill cafe is planned for 1700 20th St. and is set to open in December 2026, per the same report. The Berkeley location, planned for 3030 Telegraph Ave., will be another cafe in the expansion.
A Roastery Returns to Dogpatch
The most ambitious piece of the plan is a standalone roasting facility in Dogpatch, expected to debut in late 2027.
New Locations Extend Wrecking Ball's Reach
The expansion includes planned cafes in Potrero Hill and Berkeley, along with a Dogpatch roasting facility.
Rothgeb is credited with coining the term “third-wave coffee” in 2002.
How Wrecking Ball Fits Into a Busy Bay Area Coffee Scene
The growth spurt lands as other Bay Area coffee operators are also expanding their footprints. Coffee Bar, a downtown San Francisco cafe with two active locations, was reported in September to have three potential cafes around the city, including locations in former Starbucks and Peet's spaces. One location was being explored, while filings or signage pointed to plans for the others, according to a San Francisco Business Journal report. Home Coffee Roasters similarly pushed beyond San Francisco last year, opening its fourth cafe — and first outside the city — in Sunnyvale, as reported by Palo Alto Online.
