Small Footprint, Big Impact
Story by Melanie MacDowell
Photography by Richard Fusillo
A simple phrase is the guiding light of an Arroyo Grande coffee shop that prides itself on doing good: “Get out as much as you can with as much purpose as possible.” At Greenhouse Coffee Company, consistency, care and intention take priority.
Born of a lifelong dream and sheer kismet, Greenhouse Coffee Founder Mark Perry opened the café in 2021. The idea had been in Mark’s head for years when a spontaneous conversation with a commercial real estate owner over coffee prompted him to ask, “Would you be willing to rent a space to me?” With that positive response, a seed, or bean rather, was planted.
Though the Greenhouse café is a passion project for both father and daughter, Mark says the business is bigger than them. “There is a large group of people who’ve supported [us] and gotten behind this venture,” says Mark.
One such supporter is Elsa Sanchez of Sanchez Farms. She explains, “Emily likes the way I grow my berries and how we are working on sustainability. They are also trying to do the same thing. It’s nice to work together on that and do something good for our community. She has been supportive of me and I try to be the same way. We are small businesses and we are working towards something that is important to us.”
Mark says his business uses local producers “to help strengthen our local economy while continuing to value our relationships in this area.” The Central Coast is a prime location for fresh produce, and most of the menu items at Greenhouse are sourced from San Luis Obispo County farms and roasters. Alongside the locally roasted organic coffee, customers can dig in to hearty, colorful toasts and other satiating items. Toasties, as they’re called here, are made-to-order thick slabs of Grover Beach Sourdough bread cooked on a griddle and topped with either sweet or savory fixings. Beautiful, artisanal, locally sourced and delicious, toasties are everything that avocado toast aspires to be.
Just as a greenhouse cultivates growth, Emily believes her family’s café creates an environment that nurtures the people in it. “It’s where connection grows, where creativity grows, where people grow,” she says, both literally and figuratively. Walk inside the Grand Avenue café to find high ceilings with bright white walls adorned with plants and lots of natural light that bring the café to life. “We really understand and appreciate the vibe and values here on the Central Coast,” Mark explains.
Greenhouse is a reflection of the surrounding area: bright, sunny and a tinged with farm life and welcoming, much like the town. “One morning I was working by myself and a customer came up to tell me that our coffee shop felt like Arroyo Grande,” remembers Emily. “That has definitely been one of the many highlights so far.”
The business is part of a larger social justice movement called Hope United, a collective of people pursuing the mission of bringing good to humanity.
“We got involved with Hope United in order to make sure Greenhouse’s social justice aspects were represented by a well-established non-profit,” Emily chimes in. “They had a store called Restore, where we were able to source our items in our merchandising area from Third World microentrepreneurs from their stock, after they had closed. They had so much inventory, it just made sense to use their product for Greenhouse.” The café’s fair trade retail section offers gifts and home goods from small-scale businesses worldwide.
From concept to cup, Greenhouse Coffee Co. provides an experience that tastes and feels good with each sip. “Part of our profits go to help Third World entrepreneurs and their communities in need of groceries and practical help,” explains Mark. “Our customers feel good as they do good.”
