Dueling sourdough sandwich chains open new locations in Stanislaus with more to come
The sourdough wars continue in Stanislaus County as two regional chains specializing in the famed San Francisco staple continue to open new locations.
Sourdough & Co. and West Coast Sourdough have both opened new locations in the area serving up sandwiches and soups with their signature fresh-baked bread. Both chains receive their loaves parbaked and then finish the process to order for customers in stores.
The rapid expansion of these chains in the region (and accompanying legal wranglings — more on that later) means hungry residents have plenty of choices on where to get their clam chowder bread bowls and other sandwich specialties.
West Coast Sourdough opened its first Stanislaus County location last fall in Turlock’s Monte Vista Crossings shopping center. The company has almost 30 locations across Northern California, including other area restaurants in Manteca, Merced and Tracy.
Two new locations in Modesto, along Tully Road and Pelandale Avenue, should be opening later this spring and summer.
Sandwiches run $7.99 for a 4-inch, $9.99 for a 6-inch and $11.99 for an 8-inch and include fixings and cheese. They can be upgraded with chips and a drink for $3.45. The shop has 18 sandwich options from which to choose (from French dips to reubens and buffalo chicken), as well as specials.
If a warm bowl of soup is more your speed, West Coast Sourdough has clam chowder and tomato bisque every day, as well as daily specials which come in a cup ($6.25), bowl ($8.25) or sourdough bread bowl ($9.49). They also have a small selection of salads and kids meals.
The Turlock site will hold a grand opening celebration March 25 and 26 with a free giveaway for the first 200 guests on Saturday and deals throughout the weekend. The festivities will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days.
The new West Coast Sourdough location, at 3210 W. Monte Vista Ave. in Turlock, is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. For more information, visit or call 209-250-1500.
Meanwhile, rival regional chain Sourdough & Co. has been open in Turlock for the past two years, with its first area shop operating next to Stanislaus State University. Since entering the valley market, the chain has opened two sites in Modesto, as well as new locations in Oakdale and Patterson.
Sourdough & Co. has some 50 locations across Northern California, with other valley stores in Atwater, Manteca and Tracy.
The chain is now adding Ceres to that list, with a planned site in the Save Mart shopping center at Mitchell Road and Whitmore Avenue. The new location, a couple doors down from the existing Cold Stone Creamery, will be the first for the city.
DJ Singh, who opened the Turlock site among others and serves as a franchising representative for the company, said the Ceres location should open in “a couple months.” He said the company is still actively looking for franchisees for new local shops, and those interested can email him at dj@worldofsourdough.com. For more on the chain, visit www.wcsourdough.com.
As Sourdough & Co and West Coast Sourdough battle it out for customers, the companies have also battling in court filing suits and countersuits against one another. The Sacramento Business Journal reported in 2021 that El Dorado Hills-based Sourdough & Co. has filed a lawsuit alleging trademark infringement against West Coast Sourdough founders, some who used to be affiliated with and operated Sourdough & Co. stores. West Coast Sourdough representatives have filed their own suit alleging franchise law violations, saying the chain licenses were a “get rich quick scheme.”
The suits are ongoing, but diners can decide for themselves at the multiple locations for both stores spread out around the valley.
Elsewhere around the Business Beat:
In the same Modesto shopping center as one of the Sourdough & Co. sites, the Smart & Final shopping center on H Street, another local restaurant has found a place to expand.
Terracotta Poke, which opened in 2019 across from Stan State on Crowell Road in Turlock, is launching a second location in Modesto in the shopping center. Turlock native Nick Chan opened the first site with his parents, Carol Li and Anthony Chan, who worked for some 15 years at area Chinese restaurants.
The Turlock eatery serves a mix of poke bowls (raw fish and seafood with a variety of toppings over rice), traditional Mexican food and fusion Mexican-Asian options. Chan said the new Modesto site will also serve poke and fusion items, as well as boba tea drinks and trendy items like Hong Kong style egg waffles.
The restaurant space, in the former LeanFeast meal prep location, is going through permitting. Chan said he hopes to open in the summer, but it depends on how long permitting, renovations and inspections take. For more on Terracotta Poke in Turlock visit terracottapoke.square.site.
