Blackhorse coffee shop to open on Los Osos Valley Road in SLO

Blackhorse Espresso & Bakery is on track to open its fourth San Luis Obispo location.

Owner Tom Brown had been searching for a good spot on Los Osos Valley Road since Blackhorse opened its stores on Broad Street and at Foothill Boulevard, said operations manager Keri Wilmore. He found the more than 2,000-square-foot space at 12300 Los Osos Valley Road in the Bear Valley Shopping Center.

“He wanted to cover the four points of San Luis,” Wilmore said. “He figured this is a good delivery route for our bakery.”

The new space is the largest so far for Blackhorse, Wilmore added. Blackhorse took possession of the space, formerly the home of Abbey Carpet and Floor, in June. Construction is scheduled to be completed in time for opening the first week in September. About 10 to 15 people are expected to be hired. Blackhorse employs around 40.

“It’s going to be a mix of our three stores,” Wilmore said. “The Higuera store is our original store and is a little more eclectic. Broad Street is more refined and modern. With Foothill, we transformed a previous gas station into our space. This space will be modern and comfortable.”

The Los Osos Valley Road location will feature free Wi-Fi, a fireplace and local artwork, as well as the usual fresh pastries. Blackhorse plans to expand its lunch offerings in an effort to capture business from nearby auto dealerships. The store also wants to offer healthier choices like more salads and gluten-free items.

This story was originally published July 16, 2013 at 7:03 PM with the headline "Blackhorse coffee shop to open on Los Osos Valley Road in SLO."