The Ceres Planning Commission approved the second building for the SamBella Plaza development at Mitchell and Rhode roads.
A Vesting Tentative Parcel Map (VTPM) was approved for SamBella in 2021 so that businessman Sam Khacho could subdivide 11.9 acres on both sides of Rhode Road east of Mitchell Road into six separate commercially zoned parcels and a storm drainage basin.
The first development was approved in 2024, that of the Maverik station project but legal disputes have delayed construction until recently.
On Monday the commission approved a 910-square-foot 7Brew Coffee kiosk on an acre at the northeast corner of Mitchell and Rohde roads. The proposal includes a freestanding coffee kiosk, two drive-through lanes, nine parking spaces, landscaping, and a screened trash enclosure. No customer seating or conventional drive-through ordering speakers are proposed since all orders will be taken by employees standing in the lanes within a tablet. There will be no walk-up window as you might see at a Dutch Bros.
The business is expecting to keep four to seven employees onsite at any given time.
The CUP allows the city to establish requirements addressing vehicle queuing, access, noise, lighting, and other operational characteristics.
Access will be from Rhode Road, and the applicant is also proposing a shared access connection with the neighboring Mitchell Shopping Center to the north.
7Brew plans to operate from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
“I’m pleased to see a different coffee shop other than a Dutch Bros or a Starbucks,” said Commission Chairman Gary M. Condit. “I feel our city has a history of repeating the businesses we have.”
Martial arts studio approved
The commission also gave permission to an indoor Prodigy Combat Academy to locate in an existing industrial building – the same one as The Grapple HQ.
In 2024, the Planning Division, approved an Administrative Use Permit for construction of the 24,411-square-foot shell building and the city later approved Conditional Use Permit (CUP) so that The Grapple HQ, a martial arts training facility could set up shop.
Prodigy Combat Academy, an indoor martial arts training facility, sought a CUP to operate within Suite 5 at 1200 Montclaire Drive. Prodigy Combat Academy plans to occupy approximately 2,973 square feet of the building. No exterior modifications, building expansion, or site work are proposed.
The facility would provide martial arts instruction through scheduled classes. Proposed operations include one early morning class beginning at approximately 5 a.m. and evening classes generally occurring between approximately 4:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Prodigy’s classes for wrestling, boxing and Muat Thai martial arts would be scheduled without overlapping sessions. The proponent said his business would offer something different.
