Beloved SLO County coffee shop reopens with new owners. Take a look inside
A popular San Luis Obispo County coffee shop is back open for business after a nine-month hiatus.
In September, Top Dog Coffee Bar abruptly shut its doors at 857 Main St. in Morro Bay after nearly three decades in operation, leaving a prominent gap among downtown storefronts.
The cafe’s sudden closure left employees and customers reeling. The Morro Bay spot had been a longtime staple for local coffee drinkers, dog lovers and tourists alike.
On May 26, the beloved coffeehouse with the bright yellow building reopened under new ownership.
Brothers Jesus and Jose Reyes, who own Bay Deli at 859 Main St., decided to launch a second business venture right next door.
The duo signed a lease for Top Dog in January and have spent the past few months preparing it for streams of customers.
According to Jesus Reyes, the cafe is mostly identical to how it was before the closure. The one difference is a tweaked title.
The coffee shop’s new name is Top Dog Cafe Bar, he said.
So far, Reyes said the best part of reviving the dog-themed restaurant has been the loyal customers who walk through the door with big smiles on their faces.
“I love that,” he said. “They always stop by to say ‘hi’ ... and that’s amazing.”
Popular Morro Bay coffee shop reopens
Top Dog Cafe Bar is a family-run operation that’s devoted to its customers, Reyes said.
He and his brother work in the cafe, along with their business partners: Jackelin Cerron, who’s married to Jesus, and Maria Alvarez, who’s married to Jose.
Jesus Reyes said he had originally considered putting his own twist on the coffeehouse. Then he realized how cherished Top Dog was by the community.
So he pivoted, choosing to keep everything mostly consistent with how it was before the closure.
“It’s the same menu,” he said. “I didn’t change anything, even the price is the same as before.”
Inside, the seating and pictures on the wall are untouched, featuring portraits of golden retrievers, yellow labs, French bulldogs and a bold neon sign that reads, “Coffee with a cause.”
The plant-filled back patio remains open for visitors who want to sip their beverages amid a quiet, green landscape.
Some customers may wonder if their furry friends are still welcome at Top Dog. The answer is “yes,” Reyes said.
Reyes said dogs, cats and even guinea pigs are allowed in the coffee shop, and free pup cups are available on its menu.
Top Dog barista Janell Caoile said coffeehouse patrons have been overjoyed that the cafe’s back in business.
“Eight out of 10 customers that come in are ecstatic that we’re back open,” Caoile said.
The shop has also seen an abundance of new customers coming through the doors, according to Reyes.
So far the biggest challenge for the first-time cafe owner has been handling the large rushes of people that come in.
He acknowledged that he and his team made some mistakes during the newly revamped cafe’s first weeks, “but we’ve tried to fix it,” Reyes said.
“I know it’s (not) gonna be the same Top Dog (customers) know, but I’m trying to do my best and I’m going step by step,” he said.
Reyes said Top Dog had a month-long soft opening to train employees and work out tweaks to service.
During the final week of July, the coffeehouse plans to host a grand opening with free food and drinks for visitors. Reyes could not confirm an exact date for the event as of Tuesday, July 1.
What’s on the menu at Top Dog Cafe Bar?
Top Dog’s menu contains a variety of beverages as well as breakfast and lunch items.
Caffeine drinkers can order hot or iced espresso drinks, chai, matcha and an assortment of teas.
Top Dog Cafe Bar sources all of its coffee beans from Jobella Coffee Roasters, a local coffee producer with shops in Atascadero and San Luis Obispo.
Reyes said leaders at Jobella taught him the ins and outs of selling its coffee products, from making a perfect shot of espresso to finding skilled baristas.
“I’ve been in love with the coffee,” he said. “It’s really good coffee.”
Food options at the coffeehouse include burritos, bagels, sandwiches and hot dogs.
The cafe also has cases full of pastries sourced from Carlock’s Bakery in Los Osos.
What’s next for SLO County coffeehouse?
Reyes said he’s not done improving the cherished coffee shop.
In the future, he wants to bring in gluten-free pastries and offer brunch on the weekends.
The cafe is also in the process of getting its beer and wine license approved. Reyes said he expects to have alcoholic beverages on Top Dog’s menu by the end of 2025.
Once that happens, the coffeehouse will extend its hours later into the evening, he said.
Caoile said Top Dog will also start offering more in-house community events. The cafe recently hosted a poetry reading and it plans to bring in live music acts soon.
She hopes that, as more people rediscover Top Dog, they feel welcomed in the space.
“This is for everyone,” Caoile said. “It doesn’t matter where you’re from.”
What are hours of operation?
Top Dog Cafe Bar is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at 857 Main St. in Morro Bay.
This story was originally published July 7, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Beloved SLO County coffee shop reopens with new owners. Take a look inside."
