Before Jason Mraz became the Grammy-winning superstar he is today, he regularly tested out new songs for small crowds at San Diego-area coffeehouses, including Jitters Coffee Pub in Oceanside. Now, Mraz, a longtime Oceanside resident and farmer, has become an investment partner in Jitters, which is in the midst of a renovation and culinary reinvention.
Founded in the mid-1990s at 502 N. Coast Highway in downtown Oceanside, Jitters has been owned for the past 24 years by Vallie Gilley, who runs the restaurant with her husband and business partner Clayton Bellew. The book- and art-lined, 44-seat shop has long been known for its welcoming environment, vegan offerings and Gilley’s famous baked goods.
Over the years, Mraz and Gilley have become close friends, and Mraz has done many fundraising concerts for Gilley’s nonprofit One Kitchen Collaborative, which rescues unpicked and unsold produce and uses it to prepare meals for the needy in Oceanside.
“Jitters is a place that has seen my friends and me through so many chapters of life,” Mraz said, in a statement. “I started my career strumming songs in the corner of a coffee shop; places like Jitters are part of my origin story. A coffee shop is like a clubhouse, a third space that’s neither home nor office, and I’ve always ired the warmth that Jitters offers this town. When the chance came to help revitalize it, I knew I had to jump in. Oceanside deserves a place like this — where everyone can feel at home and gather for good food and good fun.”
The renovation is nearly complete and Jitters co-owners have begun inviting customer back in with a series of Taco Tuesday events that began April 22, with more to come on May 27 and June 17.
The next big step is an update for the Jitters menu. Felix Alcaide, executive chef for One Kitchen Collaborative Kitchen, is creating a healthy, sustainable menu that will focus on globally inspired plant-forward dishes featuring ingredients grown by local farmers, including Mraz.
Some of Alcaide’s new dishes will include a falafel burger and a rotating avocado toast made with locally grown avocados. As part of this healthier approach the number of sugar-added blended coffee drinks have been reduced. The current menu offers a mix of old favorites and five new dishes. The full new menu will be unveiled in July.
Jitters owners are planning a grand opening “Summer Bash” event from noon to 5 p.m. July 12. After that, the shop will offer extended hours with additional programming, including live music, comedy nights, DJ sets, workshops and more.
“This isn’t just a facelift — it’s a homecoming,” said Gilley. “We’re building on decades of memories while creating something that speaks to where Oceanside is going. Jitters has always been more than coffee. It’s a place full of heart, humor, and community, and we’re beyond excited to invite everyone back.”
