History

Our flagship coffee shop location at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, California is an embodiment of the early aspirations of the ranch itself. Founded in 1947 by Grant Gerson, the ranch was established to capture the spirit of brotherhood and friendship. The name “Calamigos” itself is a Chumash Indian word that means “Come as my brother, come as my friend.” Throughout his life and as the identity of the ranch was established, Gerson lived by the code of the cowboy, upholding the five points of fellowship—honesty, self-reliance, loyalty, sportsmanship and reverence—and passing on his overarching values, a positive attitude, and strong morals to the generations to follow.


Grant Gerson also prioritized a love and appreciation for the outdoors in constructing the ranch. Grateful to be in possession of such a property, he sought to honor the land and to preserve the natural beauty of the Santa Monica Mountains and the greater Malibu area. He invited others to share in this journey as the ranch grew, always instilling the same respect for the environment in those who joined him.


Beginning as a western-influenced boys camp, Calamigos grew and evolved over 4 generations to become the expansive, 300 acre ranch that it is today, home to a summer camp, resort, restaurant, wedding and event center, and of course, our coffee shop.


At Saloon Coffee Co, we aim to maintain the spirit that the ranch was founded on—a spirit of adventure and exploration, while returning to the notions of brotherhood and friendship in creating our community. We are preserving the rustic nostalgia associated with a traditional saloon, the old western gathering place, but giving it a twist to establish a contemporary gathering space that invites creativity and innovation.


Additionally, Saloon Coffee Co. is committed to furthering Gerson’s mission of protecting the environment. We are seeking sustainable solutions to the modern day issues of material waste and the degradation of natural resources; we are excited to hold ourselves to the highest standards of sustainable excellence in all of our locations.


The Calamigos brand has now outgrown the ranch alone, with other restaurant locations stretching from Ventura to Santa Monica. While the other Calamigos locations each have their own unique atmosphere and influence, Saloon Coffee Co. is now present within each of them to preserve the identity of the ranch and the legacy of Grant Gerson.


His wife said of him that “He will be remembered for embracing the joys and adventures of life and the generosity of spirit he shared with family and friends.” At Saloon Coffee Co, we strive to do just that by capturing and sharing the joys and adventures of excellent, sustainably sourced coffee with all of you, while also providing a social space to spark creativity and foster great relationships.  From the coffee we craft to the conversations and discoveries that happen in our shops, we are tying together the enduring missions of promoting sustainability, building community, and encouraging adventurous living, and we hope you will join us on this journey.