Citas Café

There’s something inviting about a neighborhood café that feels comfortable from the moment you walk through the door. At Citas Café in Hollister, that feeling begins with owner Maria Mendoza — and a dream that started long before she ever worked in coffee.

Maria’s Road to Citas

Before coffee became her profession, Mendoza spent 20 years working in dental management. She told local news outlet BenitoLink that the idea of owning a business went back to childhood, while her dream of opening a coffee shop came before she ever entered the industry.

Her career took a major turn in 2023 when her friend Alejandra Gonzalez, owner of San Jose-based Con Azucar, asked Mendoza to help with marketing. Mendoza began creating social-media content for the company and discovered that she loved the creative work.

That opportunity quickly grew. Mendoza was asked to temporarily manage one of the cafés and later worked in operations for Con Azucar franchisees. She told BenitoLink she helped open about 10 stores over two years — experience that taught her not only the mechanics of running cafés, but how differently each community responds to a business.

Courtesy of Citas Café

A Leap Toward Something of Her Own

After stepping away from Con Azucar in April 2025, Mendoza soon found herself pulled back toward coffee — this time with the possibility of creating something of her own. She and her husband learned that the former Calavera Coffee location on Airline Highway in Hollister was available and stopped to see it.

The existing café space made the transition practical, but Mendoza’s decision to open in Hollister was about more than convenience. Although she lives in Gilroy, she told BenitoLink that Hollister felt like the right place for the vision she wanted to build.

Citas Café opened on November 1, 2025, followed by a grand-opening celebration later that month.

Why “Citas”?

The name reflects the social idea behind the café. Mendoza chose “Citas,” a Spanish word associated with dates or appointments, to capture the idea of people making time to meet, talk and share an experience over coffee.

That sense of connection became central to the business. Rather than simply trying to create a popular coffee shop, Mendoza has spoken about wanting Citas to be a place where customers build memories and feel part of a community.

Coffee With Character

Mendoza kept the specialty menu intentionally focused, emphasizing quality and how house flavors pair with espresso. Citas serves coffee from Oakland-based Proyecto Diaz and built its signature lineup around drinks including Mexican Mocha, Horchata, Dulce de Leche and Brown Shaken.

Courtesy of Citas Café

One drink has an especially personal connection to the owner: the Café de Olla Latte. Mendoza told BenitoLink she was still working out the flavors the night before opening. The drink, made around natural spices and sugarcane, went on to become one of the café’s popular choices.

More Than Coffee

The food side gives customers another reason to settle in. The menu includes sandwiches and several versions of avocado toast, along with pastries and other café favorites.

Courtesy of Citas Café

Courtesy of Citas Café

Creating a Place to Remember

For Mendoza, Citas represents the convergence of two decades of management experience, a creative career change and hands-on café operations. But the finished product is deliberately personal: a place designed around people meeting people.

That may be the simplest way to understand Citas Café. The coffee matters. The food matters. But so does the reason someone walks through the door — a conversation, a date, a meeting, or simply a comfortable place to spend part of the day.

Cozy café vibes, indeed.