Linn’s popular farm stand in Cambria is still closed despite COVID reopening. Here’s why
Anybody who’s taken a winding, bucolic drive on Santa Rosa Creek Road from Highway 46 to downtown Cambria has probably noticed something odd.
Linn’s Fruit Bin Farmstore at 6275 Santa Rosa Creek Road is closed during what would normally be a very busy season.
The farm stand, known for its freshly baked pie, fruit jams and preserves, began as a pick-your-own berry farm in 1979. It’s been a popular rural destination since then.
Unfortunately, the Linn family simply doesn’t have enough employees to reopen the farm store, according to Aaron Linn, general manager of Linn’s Restaurants Inc. and Linn’s Easy as Pie.
It’s a familiar problem in business communities on the North Coast and across the United States, where the lack of applicants to fill job vacancies has been making national news for weeks.
Linn’s Fruit Bin and other Linn family-owned businesses were closed for indoor service for a time due to state and local shut-down orders. But operations at most of those businesses gradually returned to normal once most of California’s coronavirus restrictions were reduced, then lifted.
“We are concentrating on rebuilding aspects of our businesses in town, and are hopeful to open the Fruit Bin sometime in the future,” Aaron Linn said. “But we’re unsure when that will be.”
During the holidays, the Linns had to “pilfer stock from (the farm stand) to sell downtown,” he said, “and we haven’t had the time or staff to restock the Fruit Bin.”
Employees from the farm shop were “relocated, mostly at the Gourmet Goods and Gift shop,” Aaron Linn said.
Meanwhile, business at Linn’s Restaurant and Easy as Pie Cafe in Cambria is booming, as is Linn’s wholesale business and farming operation.
In addition, Linn’s makes and packages jams for Knott’s Berry Farm in a partnership that’s “bigger than ever,” Linn said.
However, he said, “it’s been tough sourcing the jam jars, lids and all.”
Linn’s offsite catering service “was completely shut down” during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Linn said, as meetings and special events were postponed, canceled or rescheduled.
“Now everybody’s calling,” he said, wanting meals, cakes, pies and other pastries for delivery.
In addition, Linn’s may soon be called to start providing food for firefighters battling the Willow Fire burning in Los Padres National Forest in Monterey County, he said.
“It’s a tricky balance, with extreme business at the restaurants and gift shop,” Linn explained. “We’re giving raises … doing our best to keep our people.”
“May and June were already like July” in terms of business volume, he said.“My job is to keep our people as happy as we can. They’re doing well, but we all need that balance in life: Hard work and a little play.”
Restaurants are facing other operational issues, too, Linn said.
“Costs are rising,” he said, “and while we’ve had minimal price increases on our menu, commodity costs are soaring,” at an average rate as high as 22%.
