Have you checked out the Market by Rooted next to Larkey Park? It used to be a deli but their refrigeration went out and the people who own Rooted bought it. Speaking of, you may remember that Rooted Coffee is owned by a Las Lomas alumnus named Jon Gilmore.
Jon and his wife, Jenny, started Rooted and focus on making a difference in the local and global farming communities. For example, they donate 10% of profits to local and global charities. They source organic and fairly-traded coffee beans, only use plant-based milks, and only use compostable, petroleum-free cups.
Based on their menu, it seems The Market by Rooted is following the same plan. It has been open for about three months and I enjoyed what I ate while visiting recently. They have sandwiches, many vegan items, and other various healthy snacks. They also have two coffee shop locations in both Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill, which have some good options, but mostly coffee. Check out our past coverage on Rooted here.
I want to congratulate them on their success, as I remember when they started by selling coffee at the Walnut Creek Farmers Market, along with their wonderful vegan waffles! They were looking for a building and got rejected for the library location, but persevered with two better locations. For guilt-free and healthy eating, check out The Market by Rooted next time you’re in the Larkey Park area.