San Francisco’s vibrant Polk Street is becoming an even more exciting destination for food lovers with the expansion of Saint Frank Coffee. Known for its exceptional coffee culture, Saint Frank is branching out, bringing a new bakery concept, Juniper, to the neighborhood. Located at the former Spinnerie space on Pine Street, which has been hosting a Saint Frank pop-up, Juniper is set to become a must-visit spot alongside the established St Frank Coffee Polk Street location. This exciting venture is spearheaded by Kevin Bohlin, the visionary behind Saint Frank, who is collaborating with a team of culinary talents to create something truly special.
Juniper, anticipated to open in October, represents a culinary evolution for the Saint Frank family. While St Frank Coffee Polk Street is celebrated for its coffee complemented by pastries, Juniper flips the script, placing culinary engagement at the forefront. Think of it as a place where the artistry of pastry takes center stage, without overshadowing the beloved coffee experience Saint Frank is known for. Andrea Correa, a pastry chef with an impressive background at Noma, El Bulli, and the Ritz Carlton in San Francisco, is the culinary force behind Juniper’s choux-focused menu. According to Bohlin, Juniper aims to bring the same dedication to quality and culture found at St Frank Coffee Polk Street, but applied to a broader culinary offering.
The menu at Juniper promises a delightful array of treats. Expect to find sourdough buckwheat English muffin breakfast sandwiches, already a hit at the pop-up, alongside sweet and savory choux pastries, and classic croissants. Looking ahead, Juniper plans to introduce a full brunch menu, making it a perfect weekend destination near St Frank Coffee Polk Street. Adding to the allure are milkshakes designed to pair perfectly with Saint Frank coffee, and even sparkling wine options. Bohlin, a self-proclaimed champagne enthusiast, believes that “bubbles pair with sweet and savory,” hinting at exciting and sophisticated flavor combinations to come at Juniper.
While Andrea Correa is guiding the pastry direction as a consultant, the team bringing Juniper to life is packed with talent. Joshua Kim, Bohlin’s partner in this venture, brings business acumen to the project. Andrew Wolpa, with a strong back-of-house experience from restaurants like Acquerello, is contributing his culinary skills and enthusiasm to the Juniper menu. Though the final menu is still in development, Bohlin has expressed excitement about items like the blueberry muffin with lemon curd and a yuzu and basil choux, describing them as “so fun.” He is also playfully seeking ways to incorporate juniper berries into the menu, a nod to the bakery’s name and identity.
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The expansion doesn’t stop with Juniper. The St Frank Coffee Polk Street family is also growing with a new location at the MIRA Tower. While supply chain delays have slightly pushed back the opening of this location, Bohlin anticipates it will be ready in November. The name “Juniper” itself has an interesting origin, drawn from Brother Juniper, a figure known for generosity and good-naturedness from the archives of Saint Francis. Bohlin notes that the Juniper and MIRA Tower projects developed concurrently, born from the “space to dream” that emerged during the quieter times of the past two years.
Despite the challenges of recent years, it has been a period of positive growth for Saint Frank. While the De La Paz location closed, this led to the opportunity to establish a new roasting facility and headquarters in Potrero, a move Bohlin is enthusiastic about. Saint Frank has also formalized its green coffee sourcing relationships into a separate business, Bonaventura, further solidifying its commitment to quality from bean to cup, which customers at St Frank Coffee Polk Street have come to appreciate. Ryan Brown, an experienced green coffee buyer and author, has joined Bonaventura as Head of Product, bringing further expertise to this aspect of the business.
Kevin Bohlin summarizes this period as one of “energy” and dreaming for Saint Frank. The arrival of Juniper and the new MIRA Tower location signal an exciting new chapter for St Frank Coffee Polk Street and the wider Saint Frank family, promising even more delightful experiences for San Francisco’s coffee and food community.
Juniper (1401 Polk Street) is set to open in October, with final hours to be announced. Currently, the Saint Frank pop-up at this location operates from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday.
Saint Frank
2340 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109 (415) 775-1619 Visit Website
Saint Frank Coffee
2340 Polk Street, , CA 94109 (415) 881-8062 Visit Website
Juniper
1401 Polk Street, , CA 94109 (415) 881-8062 Visit Website
Acquerello
Polk Street, , CA 94109 (415) 567-5432 Visit Website
