Black Rock Coffee Bar, a drive-thru coffee chain known for its specialty beverages and energy-focused menu, looks to be getting ready to open a new location in Kearny Mesa at 5335 Overland Ave.
The coffee shop recently submitted documents to the San Diego Department of Environmental Health and Quality to take over the former Taco Bell, now the home of Angry Pete’s Pizza. It is currently unclear when the new Black Rock Coffee Bar will open. The project would expand the company’s footprint in San Diego as the brand continues growing across Southern California.
Black Rock Coffee Bar was founded in 2008 in Beaverton, Oregon, starting as a small drive-thru concept focused on speed, convenience, and connection. The company has since expanded into multiple states, building a business centered on high-volume drive-thru service and a wide beverage menu. The Kearny Mesa location would join several existing San Diego County stores, including sites in Oceanside, Vista, Escondido, and Pacific Beach.
The brand focuses strongly on barista-driven service, emphasizing customer interaction alongside its beverage program. Its website describes the company as built around people-first service, with baristas playing a central role in shaping the guest experience. That approach has remained consistent as the company has scaled beyond its original Pacific Northwest roots.
Black Rock Coffee Bar offers a broad menu that includes coffee, espresso drinks, energy beverages, chai, matcha, teas, and blended “chillers.” The concept also includes breakfast items, seasonal drinks, and protein-focused options. The Kearny Mesa location would likely follow the brand’s drive-thru-focused model, which has been a key driver of its expansion.
The company has steadily grown its presence in California, with multiple locations across San Diego County already approved or operating under active permits. The addition of Kearny Mesa reflects continued interest in high-traffic commercial corridors suited for drive-thru coffee operations.
