Coffee, tea and chai drinkers in Felton can breathe a sigh of relief: The White Raven — the one-of-a-kind coffee shop nestled in downtown Felton — has changed hands after 28 years of business. But the services and offerings will remain the same.
New owners Mike and Dorothy Golden live in the valley and pledge to keep a similar vibe to what founders Larry and Kathryn McNeill offered for so many years.
“This shop is like an icon to the valley,” Dorothy Golden said from behind the counter. “We can’t help but be honored to continue the business.”
The Goldens took over Jan. 1 after several weeks of training from the McNeills, who retired from the business.
“Coffee is something we both love,” Mike Golden said of himself and his wife. “And it’s a business that’s not going to go away.”
Customers rave about The White Raven’s local feel and customer service.
“You go to any other coffee place and it’s less than (The White Raven),” said Don Johnson, a regular from Ben Lomond. “It just establishes the gold standard.”
Larry’s Famous Chai, developed by Larry McNeill, will remain a staple in the shop, and all the baristas have been hired to continue work behind the counter.
The White Raven will also keep its vendor list intact, including Peerless Coffee and Tea, a San Francisco-based seller the McNeills used from the start.
As the Goldens settle in, they might begin to sell more coffee-making regalia and make other less noticeable adjustments, they said.
Staying local
The Goldens have a long history in the San Lorenzo Valley. Dorothy worked at New Leaf Market in Felton and Boulder Creek for more than a decade and also was a barista at The White Raven.
The couple was married in August. It was at the wedding that Mike Golden tried Larry’s Famous Chai for the first time, after Catherine McNeill, a guest at the wedding, offered to provide hot beverages.
“Catherine brought coffee (from the White Raven), and that was it, I had to buy the place,” Mike Golden said with a chuckle.
After wrangling up the financing for the purchase, the Goldens took on the business.
“We want people to realize this icon is going to be here for a long time,” Mike Golden said.
