Erik's DeliCafe of Scotts Valley • 1973

When Erik Johnson invested $429 in a 600-square-foot Scotts Valley bakery back in 1973, he launched what would become a Northern California institution built on clover sprouts, slow-simmered family soups, and the mysterious Secret Goo that still tops sandwiches like the Pilgrim's Progress. Half a century later, this original location anchors a chain of nearly 30 shops, still serving Johnson's family carrot cake recipe alongside those famous handcrafted sandwiches.