Mendocino Farms is reportedly eyeing a new Los Gatos restaurant that would occupy a 2,722-square-foot space formerly used by a home-assistance business, inside a shopping center whose Nob Hill Foods anchor is on its way out. The fast-casual chain, known for chef-inspired sandwiches, salads and wraps, would be moving into a retail landscape already in flux at that center.
According to the Silicon Valley Business Journal, the proposed restaurant would replace a home assistance business in a shopping center whose Nob Hill Foods anchor is closing. The outlet also describes the project as Mendocino Farms’ ninth restaurant in Silicon Valley, a sign of how aggressively the chain has been building out its presence in the South Bay.
The timing is notable given what’s happening to the center’s grocery anchor. Nob Hill Foods will shut its Los Gatos store during 2027, according to the Mercury News, meaning the shopping center will lose its biggest draw around the same period a new restaurant tenant could be moving in.
A Chain With Roots in Southern California, Growing Fast
Mendocino Farms was founded in Los Angeles in 2005 by Mario Del Pero and Ellen Chen-Del Pero, per the Santa Barbara Independent’s reporting, and has since grown into a chain known for chef-driven sandwiches, market salads, sides and catering, with a menu that also includes soups, deli sides, seasonal specials, and vegetarian and vegan options. The company now operates restaurants across California and several other states.
The brand’s growth has accelerated enough that its Santa Barbara restaurant at 3851 State Street in La Cumbre Plaza was reported as its 100th location as of June 2026. Mendocino Farms chief marketing officer Alicia Mowder told the Santa Barbara Independent, “We’re excited to continue growing while staying true to the hospitality and culinary creativity that have defined us for over 20 years.”
More Bay Area Locations Already in the Pipeline
The potential Los Gatos restaurant wouldn’t be an isolated move. KRON4 reported that Mendocino Farms said it was opening 15 stores this year, a figure that underscores just how fast the chain has been expanding, even though the specific year behind that statement wasn’t made clear in the report. The same outlet noted that one of those new locations would land in San Jose’s Westgate Center, giving the chain a fourth San Jose restaurant.
KRON4 reported that the Westgate Center location was set to open on a Monday, Jan. 13, though the report did not specify which year that opening falls in. Elsewhere, the chain has also been pushing beyond California, with planned restaurants at Westbend in Fort Worth and Epicenter in Gilbert, Arizona, along with a location planned in Anaheim Hills.
As for the Los Gatos proposal itself, the Town of Los Gatos notes that its planning-project listings generally include a brief description, project planner, date filed, and status, with some projects also featuring images, plans, and related documents for informational purposes, according to the Town of Los Gatos. Whether this specific Mendocino Farms proposal has advanced through that process, and when it might open if approved, remains unclear based on available reporting from WhatNow.
