According to site information and mapping data, the upcoming café is slated for the former Cole's Fine Flooring space on Town Center Parkway, just north of Mission Gorge Road and adjacent to major national retailers including Costco and Trader Joe’s within Santee’s primary commercial hub. The area has seen steady retail growth in recent years, evolving into a central destination for both dining and shopping in East County.
Founded in 2003 by Taiwanese entrepreneur Cheng-Hsueh Wu, 85°C Bakery Café has grown into a global powerhouse with more than 1,000 locations worldwide. The brand is known for its hybrid concept that blends European baking techniques with Taiwanese flavors, offering a wide selection of fresh pastries, decorated cakes, and espresso-based drinks in a self-serve café format.
Signature items such as the Sea Salt Coffee, taro buns, milk bread loaves, and mango pastries have helped the chain cultivate a loyal following, particularly in markets with strong demand for Asian bakery concepts. The company’s “affordable luxury” positioning has also made it a consistent draw for customers seeking high-quality baked goods at accessible price points.
San Diego has long been an important market for the brand. The company first entered the region in 2014 with a location in Clairemont’s Balboa Mesa Shopping Center, which operated for more than a decade before closing in late 2025. Despite that closure, 85°C has maintained a strong local footprint with existing locations in Mira Mesa, National City, Oceanside, and Westfield UTC.
The addition of a Santee outpost signals a broader geographic expansion beyond the city’s core Asian dining enclaves, bringing the concept into a suburban market that has historically seen fewer international bakery chains. The Town Center Parkway corridor, anchored by high-traffic retailers and surrounded by residential growth, offers a strategic foothold for the brand to capture a new customer base in East County.
The planned Santee location also follows recent movement by the company to reestablish and reposition itself within San Diego, including a previously reported upcoming shop in the Convoy District, widely considered the region’s epicenter for Asian cuisine.
An official opening timeline for the Santee café has not yet been announced.
The new 85°C Bakery Café is expected to open at 70 Town Center Parkway in Santee. For more information, visit 85cbakerycafe.com.
Originally published on March 21, 2026.
