Where History and Hospitality Meet
Photos courtesy of Sam’s General Store.
History of Sam’s
Sam’s General Store is more than a café serving delicious coffee, tea, and artisanal baked goods—it is a historic landmark. Located in Calistoga, the shop is named for Samuel Brannan, who single-handedly started the California Gold Rush in 1849 with the headline “Gold, Gold, Gold” in his newspaper, The San Francisco California Star. It led to the arrival of hundreds of people in the Bay Area looking to strike it rich.
Recognizing that these “gold diggers” would need supplies and equipment to seek their fortune, Sam Brannan opened a general store inside Sutter’s Fort and promoted the Gold Rush. Sam bought up all the available pickaxes, pans, and shovels he could find and sold them at a premium, as it was the only store near the river where people were hunting for gold. He was so successful that he became California’s first millionaire within a year.
In 1852, Sam took his wealth and enterprising spirit to the hot springs of Calistoga, where he decided to establish a resort for the new rich and famous. In 1862 the resort opened, and the town of Calistoga was established.
Carl Dene arrived in Calistoga in 2018, ready to start a hotel and bring a high-end coffee café to town. He discovered and developed the last building standing on the original location of the resort into Brannan Cottage, a six-room luxury hotel, and decided it would be appropriate to name the adjoining café Sam’s General Store.
Brannan Cottage Inn and adjoining café, Sam’s General Store.
Since opening in 2019, Sam’s has become a gathering place for tourists and locals. It offers an array of coffee and tea drinks, fresh-baked pastries, made-to-go picnic baskets with salads or sandwiches, and gluten-free and vegan options. Patio seating provides beautiful views of the Calistoga hills and a wonderful way to start the day, enjoy lunch, or take an afternoon break outside.
In 2024 Carl decided to open a second Sam’s General Store in Saint Helena. This time, instead of historic architecture, he renovated the former Napa Valley Coffee Roasters building into a clean, comfortable café with a modern vibe, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, cozy chairs, booths, and the same customer-loved menu. It has already turned into an institution in the city, according to Carl, who said, “It’s become a community hub. From the time it opens in the morning, it buzzes inside, with everything from business meetings to real estate closings taking place.”
Both locations are focused on providing high-quality drinks and food that are inventive and delicious. Items like the ceremonial-grade iced strawberry matcha latte topped with strawberry cold foam and the gluten-free overnight oats—nutritiously packed with banana and chia seeds, yet delightfully decadent with a layer of peanut butter chocolate ganache and a sprinkle of cocoa nibs—set Sam’s General Store apart from the usual breakfast and lunch spot.
St. Helena location of Sam’s General Store, exterior of building.
To learn more about either Sam’s location or to order online, visit their website.
This article was originally written for Napa Valley Life Magazine, and was published online on November 9, 2025. See the original article here: https://napavalleylife.com/sams-general-store/. See all of Susan’s previously published articles here: https://alwayssharingwine.com/tag/previously-published.
