Old Soul adding Capitol Mall location
Old Soul Co. is coming to Capitol Mall -- a move that those involved in the deal say will bolster the area's appeal on evenings and weekends.
The locally-owned coffee house plans to open a location at 555 Capitol Mall by the end of the year, co-owner Jason Griest confirmed on Wednesday. It will fill about 1,600 square feet on the building's first floor.
Old Soul Coffee Co. will open a location at 555 Capitol Mall.
The new location's menu will focus on coffee and baked goods. Beer and wine will also be offered at the cafe, which Griest said will have outdoor seating and be open seven days a week.
Old Soul will fill a void in the area, according to Kipp Blewett, a partner with Rubicon Partners Inc., which co-owns the building. Specialty's Cafe & Bakery at 500 Capitol Mall sells Peet's coffee, but there are currently no traditional coffee houses on the street.
Existing and potential tenants have requested a high-quality coffee house at the site, according to Blewett. "We had a lot of opportunities to choose a lot of different coffee shops," he said.
But he wanted a locally owned business in the space. Old Soul, which has been a critical force in Oak Park's revitalization, was especially appealing. "We just like who they are and what they stand for," Blewett said.
The cafe's extended hours will appeal to a crowd other than the office workers commonly associated with Capitol Mall, according to Blewett. He envisions people meeting at Old Soul before and after events at Golden 1 Center, which is within walking distance of the building.
"Retail is now viable on Capitol Mall because we now have nights and weekends," Blewett said.
Old Soul is among a variety of additions planned at 555 Capitol Mall. Blewett said at least one more restaurant will be added to the building's first floor, which currently features House Kitchen & Bar. Blewett said he's considering an upscale restaurant consistent with what's offered at Ella Dining Room and Bar and Mulvaney's B&L.
Capitol Mall will be the fifth location for Old Soul, which also has an R Street venue in the works.
Sonya Sorich is social engagement manager and a staff writer at the Sacramento Business Journal. She oversees social media activity and writes about retailing, small business and restaurants.