Union Street’s latest addition, a sprawling 2,000-square-foot café, marks the debut of the Los Angeles-based Motoring Club’s second location. Founded in 2019 by Michael Rapetti, the café melds coffee culture with a private club atmosphere, offering a unique space for work, relaxation, and automotive enthusiasts.
The café, an evolution from its origins as a car storage and social club for car aficionados, now includes a vibrant coffee scene. “We started as a car storage business and a social club for car enthusiasts,” Rapetti explains. “Our concept has expanded to include coffee and retail, attracting a broader audience while retaining our core elements.”
Motoring Club collaborates with Coffee Manufactory from Los Angeles to source their beans. The café is refining its bean origins and exploring new farms to craft blends tailored to their customer base in both Los Angeles and San Francisco. Alongside standard offerings such as drip coffee, espressos, and lattes, the café features distinctive drinks like the Burnt Rubber. This cold brew concoction, adorned with black sesame syrup, activated charcoal foam, and a sprinkling of black sesame seeds resembling tire treads, has become a customer favorite.
In addition to its signature coffee creations, Motoring Club partners with Nekohama Matcha for a specialized matcha program. The café also prides itself on its in-house made, organic syrups and offers alternative milk options—such as almond and oat—without additional charges.