Cruise Coffee: Brewing Community in the Heart of Scotts Valley
On any given morning in Scotts Valley, you’ll find a toddler or two playing in the corner, a momma clutching her coffee and taking in the scene. Some seniors lingering over fresh-roasted coffee, parents balancing strollers. A quick business meeting and some friends tucked into corners with bright chairs talking about art, music, and life. It’s less of a café and more of a living room for the community, and that’s exactly how Erin Buchla envisioned it.
Cruise Coffee, located at 246 King Village Road, is open daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., with online ordering and a convenient service window, in case you can’t linger. The story of Cruise didn’t start there, it began in 2018, when Erin and her son Jazz took over a beloved little drive-thru on Mount Hermon Road, the start of what she calls “a dream come true.”
The Kings Village café came later, sparked by an unexpected opportunity. “The real estate agent came to me at the drive-through and said Metro Scotts Valley was available, did I want it?” Erin recalls. “I didn’t think we could afford it.”
But the quirky former bus depot already had a vibe. More importantly, Erin felt there was something missing. “It felt like there wasn’t a gathering spot, a cultural space,” she says. “I wanted a spot that celebrates community, food, coffee, art, culture, for all ages. A place for everyone.”
At first, she saw Scotts Valley as a thoroughfare, a pass-through between mountains and the beach. What she discovered instead was a deeply rooted family community.
“We really step up and take care of each other here,” she says.
That spirit shaped Cruise into what it is today: a true community hub. From hot rod meetups to artisan vendor pop-ups, from monthly art shows to cozy corners where parents and toddlers can unwind, Cruise hums with multigenerational energy. “We have people from zero to ninety,” Erin says. “Pregnant mamas, families growing, all the generations together in the shop. It’s so sweet.”
Behind the scenes, there is far more craftsmanship than many realize. Cruise roasts its own coffee. The bagels? Made from scratch by Erin herself. Baked goods are house made. Syrups are crafted in-house. New additions include house-made granola bars, protein bars, and coconut-based chia puddings, now permanent menu items for customers seeking grab-and-go
protein and nourishment. A new baker is introducing gluten-free and vegan options, while a creative director in the barista department is developing exciting new coffee and non-caffeinated drinks. A kids’ menu is even on the way.
“We put love into what we create,” Erin says. “Real chefs put love in what they make, and that’s what you’re putting into your body.”
Running a small business isn’t without challenges. Food and supply costs have surged dramatically; coffee prices alone have risen 33 percent in the past year. Yet what keeps Erin grounded is simple: her customers.
“I love my customers,” she says. “People are so positive and happy and love their coffee and treats.”
Before Cruise, Erin was a nanny for 27 years. A spine injury forced her to change careers. Now, she’s still growing into the business side
of ownership, but the heart of it feels natural. “The creation, the making people happy, the connection, I feel happy every day I walk into the shop,” she says. “Thank you to the community for what you do for me.”
That gratitude flows both ways.
Cruise supports local artists and vendors, hosts events, and offers beautifully crafted party boards and platters for everything from office gatherings to park picnics. Catering and community collaborations are part of the rhythm of the place.
“When you spend your money in your community, it goes back to the community,” Erin says. “Giant coffee isn’t here uplifting the community.”
Looking ahead, she dreams of building a sustainable local brand, one strong enough to hand to her son someday.
“Cruise Coffee” page 14 Calendar
Friday March 6
thru Sunday March 8
Various Times — The Alfred Hitchcock Festival The Landing 251B Kings Village Road Tickets Required
Thursday March 12
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. — Chamber Chat, Instagram: Post, Tag, Collaborate & Story Your Way to Real Results Location TBA Tickets Required
Friday May 8
5–10 p.m. – Scotts Valley Community Awards Gala Roaring Camp Railroads –Bret Harte Hall
5401 Graham Hill Rd., Felton Tickets Required
Saturday August 15
Sunday August 16
Scotts Valley Art Wine & Beer Festival
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m. –5 p.m.
Scotts Valley Chamber News
A Family Tradition Served Daily Maya Mexican Restaurant Continues to Nourish Scotts Valley
For more than four decades, Maya Mexican Restaurant has been part of the fabric of Scotts Valley, a place where birthdays are celebrated, Little League teams gather after games, and generations grow up on beans, rice, and laughter.
Located at Camp Evers on Scotts Valley Drive, Maya Mexican Restaurant has been in the community for over 40 years. The current family owners took the reins in 2002. “So, 24 years so far,” says Carmen Madana with a smile. She runs the restaurant alongside her brother Ricardo and sister Elena.
For Carmen, the restaurant business started early. “It was my first job,” she says. In the 1990s, she and her sister waitressed at La Mission in Santa Cruz. Later, the family opened Papagayos in 1999 on Pacific Avenue, in the space where Pizza My Heart now stands. When Maya became available, they stepped in.
“I wanted something for my kids,” Carmen explains. “Our whole family would have something; jobs and a place we all care about and consider home.”
That sense of home is woven into the menu. The recipes draw heavily from Michoacán, Mexico. Many dishes are traditional, and some are deeply personal. The chorizo follows her mother’s recipe. “I remember her in the kitchen making it when we were growing up,” Carmen says.
Maya’s mole, Elena’s specialty, is a point of pride. The Chicken Garlic special, created by chef David, has become a customer favorite. The Burrito Bandero, half chile rojo, half chile verde it was popular in Santa Cruz years ago and remains a staple. Even the Chile Relleno reflects thoughtful care, steamed instead of deep-fried, lighter but still made from scratch and full of flavor.
Many of the dried peppers and crushed chiles are sourced from Mexico. “They’re far tastier the way they sun-dry them,” Carmen notes.
Running a restaurant in a large, building also allows for something special: room to spread out, to host big parties, and even a banquet space. Shortly after taking over, Ricardo added a full bar. “It added so much fun to Scotts Valley,” Carmen says. Live music nights, made possible by their music license, are some of their favorite memories.
Over the years, Maya has become more than a restaurant. It’s a gathering place. The family supports local sports teams, schools, churches, and community causes. They’ve participated in the Santa Cruz Mole Festival.
While we were there, we met a lovely couple named Don & Patrice who have recently moved to Scotts Valley to be with their daughter. They’ve been visiting her for years, and on those visits, they would come to Maya.
Now that they live here, they chose it on their own; they love it for an early dinner. Don always orders the Chimichanga, and mentioned that it’s great quality, always fresh and a reasonable price.
Patrice however often switches up her order and today, for the first time she ordered the burrito and was smitten, she mentioned it was her favorite Maya order so far. Carmen loves these moments. Happy customers who return over and over.
“It’s great for the city,” Carmen says. “Families are so fun to watch, when the little ones love the beans and quesadilla
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and then somehow all of a sudden, they’re twenty-year-olds getting fajitas.”
The restaurant has evolved with the times, offering vegan and gluten-free options while staying true to its roots. There’s even a steak-and-fries dish that predates their ownership. “There’s nothing Mexican about it,” Carmen laughs. “But people loved it, so we left it.”
For all the changes, the heart of Maya remains simple. Carmen’s favorite dish is steak picado, its steak simmered with tomato sauce, onions, and bell peppers, served with rice and beans. “It reminds me of my mom,” she says. “So much flavor.”
Looking ahead, the family isn’t chasing expansion or reinvention. “We just want to keep feeding Scotts Valley,” Carmen says. Seasonal margaritas, one in particular is tamarindo. Other fresh flavors rotate throughout the year. They’re famous for these margaritas!
What does she hope people feel when they walk through the doors?
“Relaxing moments. No rushing. The world is so busy. Come have some Mexican food cooked for you while you visit with friends and family. Take a break.”
In a fast-moving world, Maya offers something steady, a familiar table, a plate filled with food made from scratch, and a place that feels like home. n
Maya, Located at Camp Evers, 3115 Scotts Valley Dr, Scotts Valley, CA, United States, Ca 831-438-7004, Open 7 Days a week, 11am-8:30pm+
The Scotts Valley Water District continues to invest in water infrastructure for customers. Learn more about all projects by visiting the CIP page. www.svwd.org/Projects
Campfire Memories
How Summer Camp Becomes a Rite of Passage in Scotts Valley
Did you go to summer Camp? I went a few times to both overnight camp and day camps. And then later I was a surf instructor for a few camps. There are certain weeks in childhood that don’t just pass; they mark you. And I was reminded of that last week when I sat down to chat with Jennifer Drummond, the Director of Advancement at Mission Springs Camps & Conference Center.
While we were chatting, I realized it’s that time of year when families work to get their children into day camps and summer camps, so it’s the perfect opportunity to share some options we have here in Scotts Valley that many people may not even know about, and it definitely had me reminiscing.
Summer camp for me was one of those sacred in between places. Not quite childhood, not yet adolescence. A place where sunscreen and pine needles mixed in the air, where the lake shimmered like freedom, and where the nights felt impossibly long in the best way.
At the end of sixth grade, I went to camp knowing it would be more than just swimming and skits. My best friend Shelbey and I had one final week together before her parents moved to a new town. In fact, I think they were packing up the house while we were away.
At twelve years old, we didn’t have the language for grief or transition. We just knew this was it, our last chapter before everything changed. We would both start junior high alone.
Six nights straight felt like the ultimate gift. A slumber party stretched into eternity. We swam until our hair turned brittle from chlorine and lake water. We threw ourselves into the art projects; we danced with abandon. Being in a judgement free zone for a twelve-year-old girl was a powerful moment.
We performed ridiculous skits and laughed until we couldn’t breathe. Every inside joke, every whispered conversation; it was all somehow more sacred at camp. It was a rite of passage that we didn’t realize, not just into seventh grade, but into the understanding that life moves, friends move, and you cannot hold on to everything tightly, no matter how hard you try.
It was the last week of pure, uncomplicated togetherness. The last week before the distance entered our BFF story.
as adventure, independence, and outdoor fun. But for some, it’s real magic is quieter than that. It is the first time many of us have felt the beginnings of growing up. The first time we sensed time slipping forward, the kid years coming to a close.
moments are precious because they end. The first time we were away from our parents but still held safely. The first little taste of freedom.
moving. It didn’t keep us from growing up. But it sealed something, a friendship at its most joyful, suspended in sun and laughter. And even now, years later, I can hear the echo of kids singing around that campfire; somehow, I’m twelve again... Standing on the edge of the water. On the edge of change. Grateful for one perfect week that felt like forever.
in the majestic redwoods of the Santa Cruz
Mountains, is an adventure-packed haven for campers from 4th to 12th grade, filled with
Send your child to a weeklong overnight experience with ziplines, minibikes, slip n slides, filled with transformative experiences, gazing at the star-studded night sky and
Scotts Valley Chamber News
Santa Cruz Staffing Connects Talent and Opportunity
For more than two decades, Santa Cruz Staffing has quietly shaped the workforce of Santa Cruz County, one carefully considered match at a time.
Founded in 2003 by Sean Castagna and John Weinberg, the agency has grown alongside the community it serves. Today, its recruiters average more than 20 years of experience, placing professionals in executive, finance, human resources, healthcare, nonprofit, IT, insurance, hospitality, and administrative roles. Their reach extends from the county’s largest employers to beloved mom-and-pop shops, yet their philosophy remains deeply local.
“We don’t just try to fill spots,” says Jeanette Larkin, who grew up in Scotts Valley running the family business under her mom, Patti Malone, who owned Malone’s Grille from 1980-2017. When pushed to do the math, Jeanette has interviewed more than 10,000 candidates and placed over 3,000 candidates during her career. “I won’t send a candidate to a
healthcare systems, nonprofits, professional services, manufacturing, and a thriving hospitality industry. Each carries its own pace, culture, software systems, and expectations. Santa Cruz Staffing takes the time to learn not just job descriptions, but personalities, department dynamics, and long-term goals.
Jeanette Larkin
“In so many industries, your people are your brand,” Larkin explains. “It’s not just a skill set that a candidate needs these days. There are a lot of different factors that go into making sure a candidate is the right fit. And hiring the wrong candidate can be expensive, time-consuming, and catastrophic. That is where we come in. I literally had a CEO call me on Friday night last week, thanking us for finding a top candidate for his company. He said his stress level had decreased by 1000%, and it was the first time he felt great driving home from work in weeks. These are the calls that remind me that I have the best job in the world.”
For Larkin, the work is personal.
to working full-time at his landscaping business. Through this small connection, he was able to land his dream job, a private estate gardener for one of the most successful CEOs in Santa Cruz County’s history.
“It seemed like the world opened for him,” she says. “It was a big change in his life, and he was so grateful. All he needed was a chance.”
While staffing can appear transactional from the outside, she insists it is anything but. There is emotional weight in managing people’s hopes, livelihoods, and expectations. Honesty and integrity guide every conversation. “We want to represent the high integrity that we have,” she says. “We want people to be clear about expectations, so they’re not crushed if something doesn’t work out.”
For employers, urgency is often the reality. When key administrative or leadership roles sit vacant, productivity suffers.
full-time placements, building stability for both employers and candidates. “Our new business model has been terrific. Clients love the expanded range of services and payment plans we can offer being a local, boutique agency.”
For job seekers, working with a recruiter can open doors that don’t appear on LinkedIn or Indeed. “We have access to jobs you won’t necessarily see,” Larkin says. From refining resumes to facilitating introductions, the agency acts as advocate as much as intermediary.
The company also offers discounts to nonprofits, recognizing the funding challenges and mission-driven motivations unique to Santa Cruz County’s vibrant nonprofit sector.
After 24 years of business, success for Santa Cruz Staffing isn’t measured only in revenue. It’s measured in return clients, deep industry knowledge, and long-term careers.
“It’s matchmaking,” Larkin says with a smile. “But on a much bigger scale.”
She recalls taking a chance on a part-time candidate, a father who desperately needed medical benefits for his family. He began working just 20 hours a week in addition
connected, supported and valued. They also make sure warm meals are available and that they are open when schools are out to help working families meet the needs of childcare.
They offer two other clubhouses, one is downtown Santa Cruz and one in Live Oak, some parents take advantage of the club nearest their work or with different amenities.
Check out the website for more info:
The City of Scotts Valley Parks & Rec have spring & summer programs + lots of classes for all ages. They produce activity guides 3 times a year.
Be sure to check out the latest guide for upcoming classes, camps, programs, and events at
Santa Cruz Staffing maintains a proactive pipeline of pre-vetted, local professionals, allowing businesses to move quickly without sacrificing quality. The firm has recently shifted its focus away from temporary staffing and toward long-term,
“Cruise Coffee” from page 11
An app is in development, expanding on the already popular online ordering system & service window. So much growth is always happening at Cruise, Erin is always brainstorming and making things better, when you chat with her you can almost see the wheels turning.
Quality. Community. Service. A whole vibe.
Scotts Valley has a gem in Cruise Coffee, a place where coffee is roasted
And in a community built on relationships, human touch may be their greatest placement of all. n
To find out more and connect: santacruzstaffing.com
with intention; bagels are shaped by hand, art fills the walls, and everyone from toddlers to grandparents can find a seat at the table.
And if you haven’t stopped in yet, Erin would likely say the same thing she built the café around in the first place: there’s room for you, too.
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Cruise Coffee
246 King Village Rd., Scotts Valley (831) 515-7324 • www.cruise-cafe.com 7 a.m.-3 p.m. / 7 days a week
