Hestia barista Mayra Flores (left) makes a drink under the direction of co-owner Sierra Stamps during the first day of the coffee shop’s soft-launch opening on July 21. (Sean Roney/Staff)

KING CITY — Hestia at the Diner had a soft opening last week for its new location in King City at 320B Broadway St., with a grand opening planned for this Sunday, Aug. 1.

The business is co-owned by Kelly Green and her daughter Sierra Stamps.

Stamps has coffee shop experience from Paso Robles, while Green always dreamed of opening a bakery. Together, they decided to merge their business wishes into Hestia.

The shop currently serves coffee, tea and smoothies to get the three employees used to the recipe, but they plan to add baked items around the time of their grand opening. They also plan to add paninis and salads to the menu.

The name, Hestia, comes from the Greek goddess of hearth and home.

“We chose that name because that’s what we want to bring into the community, a place where people can feel like they’re sitting in front of their hearth in their home and enjoying a cup of coffee and chatting with their family, neighbors, and just taking a minute to enjoy the day,” Green said.

Hestia will be open Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closed Sunday. Green said if customers have different preferences, the shop is willing to shift the schedule around.

The coffee shop will be closed this Saturday, July 31, however, to prepare for Sunday’s grand opening, which is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The soft opening, which began July 21, allows the staff to get up to speed and figure out if any systems need to be streamlined.

Mayra Flores (from left), Sierra Stamps and Kelly Green work behind the counter to prepare the steady stream of drink orders during Hestia’s first day of business. (Sean Roney/Staff)

Stamps said the unique drinks offered at Hestia, such as lavender lattes and strawberry mochas, are something she considered important as part of the menu.

“It’s really just trying to create something you’re not going to see anywhere else,” she said.

Green explained that the first day of operation was steady all day, with little chance to take a break from all the walk-in traffic.

“We are definitely grateful that King City has been supporting us,” she said.

The shop also has an outdoor seating area, built as part of King City’s sidewalk improvement for area businesses.

With no direct neighbors yet in the available buildings, Hestia is using the seating area for its customers. Green said there are plans to have shade set up for the open-air spot.

“We really hope that this area is going to bring the community together,” she said.

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Sean Roney is a freelance reporter for King City Rustler and Salinas Valley Tribune, a unified publication of Greenfield News, Soledad Bee and Gonzales Tribune. He covers general news for the Salinas Valley communities in South Monterey County.

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