Double Shot of Java

They’re only 3.6 miles apart, but the two Five07 coffee shops in Thousand Oaks couldn’t be further apart in vibes. While the original store on Avenida De Los Arboles is expansive with a mellow feel, with places to sit and meet or spread out and hold study sessions, the new place on Thousand Oaks Boulevard is close to what passes as TO’s downtown, where people seem to be more interested in grab-and-go coffee—getting in and out as quickly as possible—according to owners Sean and Amber Rendineo.

“On the Boulevard we’re surrounded by businesses,” says Sean. “We need to become part of the routine of the day. Arboles is a destination. But here [on the Boulevard], we need to get to where this is part of the breath—the inhale of my day.” He explains that learning the usual orders of store regulars is the best way to the hearts—and (potentially brief) schedules—of the dressed-for-success crowd.

The couple opened their original Five07 coffee shop in January 2018 in the Oakbrook Plaza shopping center (Arboles). The name Five07 is a reflection of the couple’s belief in the five stages of the creative process first described by Graham Wallas in his 1926 book The Art of Thought. “Inspiration, Build-Up, Resistance, Overcoming and Collaboration,” is the couple’s iteration of the steps needed to accomplish dreams and goals, and what they aim to serve up seven days a week.

“Every step has had some sort of block,” Sean says. “In our current space at Arboles, it was our age and inexperience. At Boulevard the blocks were finding the right spot and working with contractors, which took many more months than expected,” says Sean, who points proudly to being able to overcome the barriers.

But even for self-described young and idealistic 23-year-olds, opening a coffee shop wasn’t challenging enough. They decided to get married just five months later.

“We opened the shop in January and got married in May,” Amber recalls. “Yes, it was a lot. I do not recommend it. We pulled it off, but that was exhausting and almost impossible. Balancing was hard. It took a long time to figure it out,” she says. “We were young. We thought we knew everything.”

After six years, the couple has worked out schedules and duties that suit them better. They stagger their days off to allow both individual and couple times off.

“At this point, we are finding success in having individual days off without the other to recharge, and days off with both of us to work on our marriage as ‘Sean and Amber: married couple,’” she says. Such flexibility has been key in operating the Arboles location.

While they had always planned to offer food, first at the Arboles location and later at the Boulevard location, they were surprised at the initial reception.

“We don’t have to do it all if the community is wanting something else,” Amber says. “It got me thinking one day when people were lined up in a long line out the door [at the Arboles location], ‘I wonder if we could cater to people who just want to grab a cup of coffee and go on’—parents walking little ones, or others grabbing a cup before work.”

Although both Amber and Sean grew up in Thousand Oaks, they were taken by surprise at the huge difference in clientele between the two locations. The Arboles store, with its location closer to California Lutheran University, has a nice menu—varied enough to be interesting, but not so fancy as to require cooks with deep culinary expertise.

“We had envisioned the food program as being a nice addition,” says Sean. “But [at Arboles] food really took off: organic smoothies, acai bowls, crepes, sandwiches, avocado toast.” He adds that food is sourced locally, with pastries for both shops from local bakeries.

“We get our produce from Berry Man and as many local [food] organizations as possible. We have a wonderful food team. But we focus mainly on middle-ground food, like crepes, paninis, etc. It’s not heightened enough for someone who considers food a career.”

The Boulevard location, which is on the doorstep of Westlake Village, focuses more on efficiency and proximity to Highway 101 so the food menu is much more succinct. Both shops sell a Five07 specially made blend called “Coffee for Creatives” sourced and roasted by Centri Coffee, out of Ventura. There are also single-origin and other specialty coffees.

With the opening of a second location behind them, the couple is thinking about more expansion. It depends on the need. “We’re definitely open to that. We don’t have anything going right now,” says Sean. “We look for places with some potential. Is it a community where we see a need, something has to be done, something has to be named? It’s like a novelist: You have to have a story to tell. It’s the same as running a business. Does this need to happen?”

Arboles Coffee Bar + Eatery
2036 E. Avenida De Los Arboles,
Suite C,Thousand Oaks,
805-492-0507

TO Blvd Coffee Bar
2955 Thousand Oaks Boulevard,
Thousand Oaks,
805-371-6864

TheFive07.com
@thefive07