This article, written from a long-time Marin County perspective, dives into Loquat—the San Francisco Jewish diaspora bakery known for laminated babka and pastries by Kristina Costa—opening a second location in the Inner Richmond.
From a Bay Area food lover’s view, whether you’re in Mill Valley, San Rafael, or Sausalito, the piece explores what the new space at 4555 California St means for breads, challah, and the rotating diaspora-influenced offerings.
Discover hand-picked hotels and vacation homes tailored for every traveler. Skip booking fees and secure your dream stay today with real-time availability!
Browse Accommodations Now
It also considers how this expansion ties into Marin’s appetite for culturally rich, shareable loaves.
Loquat Expands to the Inner Richmond
Loquat is planting a second bakery in San Francisco’s Inner Richmond, and honestly, that resonates from Tiburon to San Anselmo.
They’ve signed a 20-year lease on the old Beanstalk Cafe corner, showing a real commitment to broadening production and getting crate-to-customer speed up for favorites like laffa sandwiches and weekly challah.
This SF expansion gives them more room and better equipment to bake more often.
They’re keeping the neighborhood vibe that folks from Corte Madera and Larkspur already love—all within a short drive for Marin diners who crave fresh bread and Jewish diaspora flavors.
New Space, Equipment and Availability
The California Street site will get a convection deck oven, and they’ll probably add a tandoor oven too.
This means a wider, rotating selection of breads from Jewish-diaspora traditions.
For Marin families and food tourists, it’s more frequent access to signature items and a chance to watch bakers at work in a communal, oven-fired setting.
It’s got that weekend-in-San-Rafael or Fairfax kind of vibe.
They’re aiming for a steady flow of breads and pastries that pull from global influences, and now they’ve got the capacity to meet higher demand as it layers into the city’s schedule.
What’s on the Menu: Breads, Pastries and To-go Dips
Loquat’s new SF space will stick to its core: house breads, laminated pastries, and to-go dips.
They’ll keep experimenting with weekly specials, too.
The menu nods to both tradition and modern toasts, which appeals to Marin diners who bounce between towns like Novato and San Anselmo and still want a fresh loaf for Sunday brunch.
Regional Breads and Modern Takes on Challah
You’ll find regional breads like Iraqi garwag, Palestinian ka’ak al quds, and Moroccan harcha.
They’ll have daily bialys with cream cheese and house-made lox, plus a variety of sourdoughs.
Challah becomes a platform for creative toasts—think pistachio butter and honey, egg-avocado salad, or labne and roe.
Grab-and-go challah sandwiches feature labne, roasted eggplant, and matboucha, while to-go dips like matboucha and labne with za’atar stock the fridge.
Seasonal items come from the nearby Clement Street Farmers Market, just a short drive for Bay Area Marin communities.
This menu rhythm gives Marin diners new options to pair with coffee stops along the Larkspur–San Rafael corridor or on a weekend drive from Fairfax to the city for a loaf to bring home to Mill Valley and Tiburon.
- Iraqi garwag
- Palestinian ka’ak al quds
- Moroccan harcha
- Daily bialys with cream cheese and house-made lox
- Rotating sourdoughs
The shop will also carry seasonal items from Clement Street’s farmers markets.
This lets a Bay Area loop—from Marin’s San Rafael farmers market to the Inner Richmond grocery aisles—feel like one big bread-loving community.
Wholesale Footprint Across the Bay
Loquat is expanding wholesale ties beyond its current partners—Four Barrel, the Mill, Blackbird Bookstore’s café, and Kitsch Coffee—into more local markets and grocery stores.
Marin readers in Sausalito, Mill Valley, and Novato might be watching to see if babka and bread pop up in nearby shops, letting families pick up a weekend loaf on a drive down from Corte Madera or during a Sunday visit from Ross.
The Inner Richmond bakery’s wholesale push aims to make Loquat a familiar name in the Bay Area food scene.
It’s turning a beloved San Francisco bakery into a regular stop for Marin residents making a day trip to the city for a bakery-first afternoon.
Design, Vibe and Outdoor Space
The California Street space, designed by Seth Boor, will have a cozy, communal feel with a parklet and lots of outdoor seating.
It works well with the avenue’s wider sidewalks and the neighborhood’s mix of families and younger residents—imagine a stroll from Larkspur to the Inner Richmond that ends with a warm loaf or a plate of lahvosh.
The layout creates a relaxed, open atmosphere where a Mill Valley or San Anselmo family can linger after picking up bread.
It turns a bakery run into a small Bay Area gathering, and honestly, who doesn’t want that?
Bread as Storytelling: A Cultural Project
Owners Tal Mor and Jodi Geren see Loquat as more than a bakery. For them, it’s a cultural project, using bread to share the stories of Jewish communities shaped by global influences.
This idea resonates with Marin cooks. From San Rafael to Fairfax, bread becomes a portal for connection across cultures.
It’s a delicious way to explore diaspora histories. At the same time, you’re supporting local farmers and regional pastry talent—pretty great, honestly.
Maybe you’re a Marin foodie planning a weekend excursion through Sausalito. Or you might be a Mill Valley neighbor chasing the city’s latest bread trend.
San Anselmo families mapping out an Inner Richmond day trip might want to add this to their list. Loquat’s new location promises a neighborhood bakery experience with broad reach.
There’s a sweet future baked into every loaf. That’s something you can actually taste.
Here is the source article for this story: Loquat, a Jewish diaspora bakery in SF, will open second location
Find available hotels and vacation homes instantly. No fees, best rates guaranteed!
Check Availability Now
Cities and Towns in Marin County
Things to Do in Marin County
Places to Stay in Marin County
