Better Buzz Coffee Roasters appears to be eyeing a spot at 1016 E. Bidwell St. in Folsom, based on a general manager job posting the San Diego-based chain has listed on LinkedIn naming that exact address. The site is a former Carl’s Jr. restaurant, roughly 3,078 square feet with a drive-thru, near neighbors like Target, Crunch Fitness and HomeGoods.
Established in 2022, Better Buzz already operates locations across Southern California, Arizona and Nevada, and this would mark its first Sacramento area store if the project moves forward. The chain’s menu leans into a wide range of hot and iced coffee drinks, from mint-infused iced coffee to a honey latte, along with food options like bowls, toast, sandwiches and wraps.
According to the Sacramento Business Journal, Folsom communications director Christine Brainerd said the city approved director-level design review for a Better Buzz tenant improvement project on September 1, though the company hasn’t yet formally submitted its plans for review. The project is valued at $425,000, with proposed work including a full interior remodel, replacement of various mechanical systems, updated exterior paint and finishes, new tenant branding, and a refreshed outdoor patio with new seating.
A $425,000 remodel budget suggests Better Buzz is planning a fairly thorough transformation of the space rather than a light cosmetic refresh, swapping out mechanical systems and exterior finishes alongside the branding itself.
