June 22, 2006

Sonoma Chicken Coop is coming to Almaden Valley

Featuring high-quality dining in a self-serve establishment

By Lorraine Gabbert
Staff Writer

The owners of Sonoma Chicken Coop are planning to bring their “inexpensive excellence” to Almaden Valley with plans to open a new restaurant at the former McDonald’s site at Old Almaden Plaza.

Sonoma Chicken Coop is set to open its restaurant at the former McDonald’s site at Old Almaden Plaza. Photo by Lorraine Gabbert

With its elegantly prepared, yet affordable fare served in an inviting setting, Sonoma Chicken Coop delivers, so it’s no wonder co-owner Jeff Starbeck enjoys going to work. “It’s great being around people all the time and making them happy,” says Starbeck. “It means a lot.”

A tasty treat
Known for its generous portions and attention to detail, even the salads at Sonoma Chicken Coop are extraordinary, from their Citrus Grove Salad featuring mangoes, grapefruit, oranges, avocados, pistachio nuts and house greens, to the Roast Chicken Walnut Salad featuring romaine leaves with candied walnuts, roast chicken, gorgonzola and aged wine vinaigrette.

Starters include Baked Goat Cheese Fondue, Wine Grilled Artichoke and freshly-made soups served with homemade focaccia bread. Entrees include flame-grilled top sirloin steak served with roasted garlic and red wine sauce; king salmon fillet herb grilled and served over lemon risotto; and duck with red wine sauce, warm fruit and leeky mashed potatoes.

Among their specialties is their Summer Salad Trio featuring a tossed green salad with chicken and walnuts; fresh fruit salad with berries; and a pasta salad with salami, feta and olives. Their Backyard Barbeque Platter includes smoked spare ribs, a chicken quarter and skirt steaks with a chipotle glaze, served with fresh grilled corn cobs and bacon mashed potatoes. The ultimate temptation is their dessert menu, which includes Hot Chocolate Marble Cake, which consists of swirled white and chocolate batter baked with crushed Oreo cookies and topped with hot chocolate fondue and coffee ice cream.

A look back
The concept for Sonoma Chicken Coop began as a brainchild of four friends: Jeff Starbeck, Gary Kjolhaug and Bob and Bonnie Ray. Starbeck, who owned Peggy Sue’s at the time, jumped when a location became available across the street from his downtown restaurant. “I thought it would be a great spot,” he says, “and I wanted to keep it simple, with an ordering counter like Peggy Sue’s.”

Starbeck soon enlisted partner Kjolhaug as head chef and creative muse in conceiving the original menu. Kjolhaug is also responsible for training and supervising the personnel at all of the restaurant’s locations.

The name, “Sonoma Chicken Coop,” was chosen to convey the concept of a restaurant that serves high-quality meals like one might find in Sonoma, with a more casual approach. “Chicken Coop” also reflects their famous rotisserie chicken, which is a house favorite, along with their Red Hot Prawns and Chicken and Walnut Salad.

“Our rotisserie chicken is made fresh daily,” says Starbeck. “Everything is made from scratch, with the freshest ingredients.” It may be this approach which has led to the company’s success and growing franchise.

Their original San Jose restaurant, opened in 2002, is located on historic San Pedro Square and offers fine cuisine in a charming wine country interior, as well as al fresco dining on their spacious patio beside a fountain’s sparkling waters or the warmth of a cozy fireplace.

Two years later, they opened another restaurant in downtown Campbell. With its two floors of dining, this popular establishment can serve up to 250 patrons. Besides its tempting entrees, Sonoma Chicken Coop’s Campbell location also offers a full bar menu, in addition to its house specialty brews such as Kolsch, Pale Ale, Brown Ale and Kristall Weizen, and seasonal brews such as IPA, Oktober, Porter and Starbock.

A look ahead
Starbeck, who is a fixture at the Sonoma Chicken Coop’s Campbell site, may soon be seen at the company’s planned Almaden location. “We haven’t signed on the dotted line yet,” he says, “but as far as I’m concerned, it’s a done deal. I’d say we’re 95 percent there. I’ve already spent money on an architect.”

Sonoma Chicken Coop is currently completing negotiations with McDonald’s (who holds the lease for eight more years) to sublease their site at Old Almaden Plaza. They have also had preliminary talks with property managers Gilmore & Associates to negotiate an extension on the eight-year lease. “They want us to be there,” says Starbeck. “We are in the process of drawing up plans so when we have the lease, we can get right to work.”

Lisa Gillmor of the center’s property management firm Gillmor and Associates says that although the firm is still under contract with McDonalds and she can’t comment further at this time, “we’d be excited to have that type of tenant [Sonoma Chicken Coop] in that space.”

At Sonoma Chicken Coop, they have nothing to hide. Pictured is their open kitchen. Photo courtesy of Sonoma Chicken Coop

The company chose Almaden for its demographics and location. As customers at the Sonoma Chicken Coop in Campbell often suggested that Starbeck consider opening a branch in Almaden Valley, he was delighted when the Old Almaden Plaza location became available. “I probably get more comments about opening in Almaden than anywhere else,” he says.

A Sonoma Chicken Coop Almaden opening date is envisioned as early as October or November 2006, according to Starbeck. Simultaneously, the company is planning to open a Skyport restaurant near the airport, with a planned September opening date, and has other South Bay locations in mind for future expansion.

“We’re really excited about it and hope we’re well accepted by the community,” says Starbeck. “I think we will be.” Although they will keep the building’s basic framework, plans include extending the patio space and redesigning the restaurant’s interior space to accommodate 250 to 300 patrons.

In the last four years, Sonoma Chicken Coop has become a destination restaurant. Starbeck hopes it will be in Almaden as well, drawing customers from the South Bay area and increasing the revenue for the shopping center.

Mrs. Fujii, of Mrs. Fujii’s Art School, believes it will be a great addition to the shopping center and invites future patrons to view her art gallery. “I think it will bring more activity and life to the center,” she says. “It will definitely be a plus for us. It’s very exciting.” Gillmor agrees. “Sonoma Chicken Coop is the type of tenant we’re looking for at the center.”

“We see a great opportunity in Almaden,” says Starbeck. “We know we’re going to open the doors and have a full house.”

Sonoma Chicken Coop San Jose is located at 31 Market Street, with an additional entrance at San Pedro Square, (408) 287-4098. Sonoma Chicken Coop Campbell is located downtown at 200 East Campbell Avenue. (408) 866-2699.