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From the journal· April 2024

A Morro Bay Photo Story -- From BofA to Scout

How the old Bank of America on Morro Bay Boulevard became a cafe, a bakery and a roastery.

4 people, 3 in hard hats, review plans inside the wood-framed building during construction

A couple years ago, we bought the big Bank of America in downtown Morro Bay. It became the biggest project Scout has taken on, and finally opened this year as our new showcase roastery, cafe, and commissary bakery.

Here's the snapshot view of some of the process.

Plan a visit on the Morro Bay page, read about the roastery at HoneyCo, or shop the coffee roasted there.

Trying to Envision the Bank of America to Scout Conversion Morro Bay Bank of America to Scout Coffee Conversion Scout Coffee Bank of America Conversion BofA Demo

BofA to Scout Coffee

Scout buildout Morro Bay

Sara Morro Bay buildout

Jon Vault Morro Bay Buildout

Scout Buildout Morro Bay

Front Entrance

Gutted former bank interior with trenches dug in the floor, new plumbing and large crates marked Loring — Trenches and new plumbing cut into the old bank floor

Open wood framing and bare floor inside the building, with trees and the street visible through the frame — New wood framing goes up

Former bank building wrapped in scaffolding and construction fencing at the street corner — Scaffolding and fencing go up outside

Drywalled interior with a scissor lift, scaffolding and the outline of a new counter, as 2 people review plans — Drywall up and the counter taking shape

Demolition rubble and dirt piles beside the building, with a Bobcat and workers behind a fence — Demolition outside the building

3 large wooden crates marked Loring and Fragile on dollies in a white room with black framed windows — The roaster arrives in crates

A large plastic-wrapped bakery mixer during the build-out

Stainless steel Loring coffee roaster unpacked on its wooden pallet, with shipping crates behind it — The roaster out of its crate

A worker tiles a coffee bar in an orange and white circle pattern, with boxes of tile stacked nearby — Tiling the coffee bar

Front of the building under scaffolding, with a green tarp and fresh concrete sidewalk — Exterior work on the front of the building

New gray cabinets and a plastic-wrapped refrigerator under a covered counter in front of a tiled wall — Cabinets and a refrigerator go in

Coffee roaster installed in a white room with black framed windows, a pallet jack and a ladder nearby — The roaster set in place

White corner building with black framed windows, a wood fence and drought-tolerant plants along the sidewalk — The finished building from the street

Finished cafe with an open bank vault door, a Scout mural wall and an orange and white tiled coffee bar — The old bank vault, kept in the finished cafe

Customers order at an orange and white tiled coffee bar with an espresso machine and woven pendant lights — Open for business

Coffee roaster with stainless hoppers seen through a window, with bags of green coffee stacked behind — The roastery, seen through the glass

Wood shelf stocked with Scout Coffee bags and brewers, with customers seated in the cafe beyond — Retail coffee shelf

Glass-door refrigerator with a Scout Coffee sign, stocked with drinks, next to shelves of retail goods — Grab-and-go and retail

A barista works behind an orange and white tiled coffee bar with an espresso machine and pendant lights — The finished coffee bar

Stacked sacks of flour in the cafe, with retail shelves and a customer walking by in the background — Flour for the bakery

Stainless steel bakery with a tall oven, stacked convection ovens, a sheet pan rack and a range — The commissary bakery kitchen

A large plastic-wrapped bakery mixer during the build-out

Sheet pans of fresh baked croissants on a stainless steel rack — Croissants out of the oven

Seating area with a tall concrete wall, an orange bench and customers working at tables — The finished seating area

Stainless steel coffee roaster with 2 hoppers beside tall black framed windows looking into the cafe — The roaster in its finished room

Customers and baristas at the orange and white tiled coffee bar with espresso machine and grinders — A busy coffee bar

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