For nearly three years, One Love Café has been more than a coffee shop.

It has become a place where neighbors meet, friendships begin, local businesses connect, artists share their work, nonprofits gather, and our community comes together. It has hosted networking events, fundraisers, community conversations, live music, family gatherings, and countless moments that have made Downtown San Bruno feel more connected.

Today, that future is uncertain.

We have been informed that our lease will not be renewed at the end of September.

While we respect the property owner's right to make decisions about their property, we believe One Love Café has become an important part of our community and deserves every opportunity to remain in its home.

This petition is a respectful request for all parties to continue the conversation and explore every reasonable option that could allow One Love Café to remain in Downtown San Bruno.

Closing One Love Café would mean more than losing a business.

It would mean losing:

• A gathering place for neighbors
• A welcoming space for families
• A home for local artists and musicians
• A meeting place for nonprofits and community organizations
• A supporter of local schools and charitable causes
• A small business that has invested its heart, time, and resources into serving San Bruno
• One Love Café has also become home to the San Bruno's Chamber of Commerce, helping support local businesses and strengthen our downtown.

Small businesses help define the character of our cities. Once they are gone, they are incredibly difficult to replace.

We are asking our community to stand with us by signing this petition and sharing why One Love Café matters to you.

Many people have asked why our lease isn't being renewed. I want to answer as openly and honestly as I can.

Over the past few years, One Love Café has faced ongoing challenges related to our lease.

One of the biggest issues was the way certain operating expenses were billed to us. As a small business, we were unexpectedly charged significant pass-through costs, including earthquake insurance and other building expenses. These charges made it extremely difficult to budget because they could change dramatically from year to year.

In addition, I believed there were times when documentation required under our lease was not provided to us in a timely manner, which made it difficult for us to understand and verify those charges before they became due. We spent a great deal of time trying to resolve these issues.

Throughout this process, I often felt that our concerns were not being taken seriously. I personally experienced the process as intimidating and, at times, unfair. Those are my personal feelings based on my experience.

As our lease approached renewal, I proposed a simple solution: convert the lease to a gross lease. A gross lease would have provided predictable monthly occupancy costs, allowing us to budget responsibly and focus on running our business instead of worrying about large, unexpected annual bills.

Unfortunately, we were unable to reach an agreement, and we were informed that our lease would not be renewed.

I want to be clear about something:

This is not about avoiding paying our fair share. Every business owner expects to pay rent and reasonable operating expenses.

This is about creating a sustainable environment where a small, independently owned business can plan ahead, invest in its employees, and continue serving the community without the uncertainty of unexpected, substantial pass-through charges.

I still hope there is an opportunity for respectful dialogue. One Love Café has become much more than a coffee shop. It has become a gathering place for our community, and I believe it's worth exploring every reasonable option to preserve it.

Thank you to everyone who has reached out with love and support. Your messages have meant the world to me.

Every signature sends one simple message:

Community matters.

We respectfully ask that the property owner meet with us to explore whether there is a path that allows One Love Café to continue serving the community we all care about.

Thank you for believing in local businesses, community spaces, and the people who make San Bruno feel like home.

With gratitude,

Rebecca Molano
Owner, One Love Café