Met first with the nostalgic aroma of freshly fried donuts and the sound of pulling espresso machines, patrons of Nosy Neighbors Coffee & Donuts, known colloquially as Nosy Neighbors, are quickly enveloped in the brand’s signature orange atmosphere.
Despite the familiar smells, colors and sounds, the café recently underwent a major change.
Over the Claremont Colleges’ winter vacation, Nosy Neighbors moved from its cozy home on Harvard Avenue, a mere few blocks away from Pomona College, to a much larger space on Yale Avenue. The grand opening took place on Jan. 27.
The new location was previously occupied by Heroes & Legends Bar & Grill — who shared the space with Sancho’s Tacos — and is located near popular spots such as Ubatuba Açaí, DeeLux and 21 Choices.
Nosy Neighbors’ old spot was located next to Pepo Melo, a beloved açaí establishment across the street from Shelton Park. Despite its 180 square-foot footprint, the café’s former site drew a significant crowd. Due to limited space, the cafe only offered outdoor seating.
Keith Strenger, the owner of both Nosy Neighbors and Pepo Melo, noted that the original location served as a proof of concept for something with the potential for widespread popularity. He cited high customer demand and a need for indoor seating as the primary motivations for the move.
“Indoor seating was important because we were affected by the weather quite a bit,” Strenger said.
Strenger attributed Nosy Neighbors’ popularity to its branding and quality. As advertised on the front door’s “Coffee and Donuts” sign, the shop is known for its signature mini donuts, which pair well with coffee. The menu features ceremonial grade matcha, seasonal items such as a chocolate-covered strawberry mocha and coffee brewed from Klatch Beans, a family-owned brand known for its award-winning blends.
Hannah Park CG ’25, a self-proclaimed coffee lover, ranks Nosy Neighbors among her top Village coffee spots. Park loved the old location due to its cozy feel but was also “excited for a new place to sit down and do work and to hang out with friends and family.”
Kathryn Dunn, director of the Claremont Village Marketing Group, said that the coffee shop was a valuable addition to the collection of local cafés in the Village, providing 5C students a new study spot.
“We have 7,000 people that come in every August and, granted, they leave in May; those 7,000 people need a place to study and get snacks and they don’t always want to get a big meal,” Dunn said. “But they want to meet with a couple of classmates and work on a group project … and we can’t have enough spaces for that.”
Claire Moore CM ’26 used to frequent Nosy Neighbors’ old location after class. Moore remarked that the new location maintains its cozy atmosphere, even with a larger space.
“It’s a little farther from where I typically am on campus, but I think it’s in a good central location of the Village,” Moore said.
Patrons of Nosy Neighbors should be prepared for the establishment’s bustling popularity. Lines are moderately long on weekdays and even longer on weekends.
There are tables and comfortable chairs spread throughout the space, making it the perfect place for students to catch up on some work. While parents frequently bring along young children, 7C students on laptops generally take up the majority of seating.
Rebecca Rodriguez has been a barista at Nosy Neighbors since the original shop’s opening two-and-a-half years ago. She describes her transition to working at the new location as seamless.
“It’s a lot more space to keep track of, but it’s also nice to have people sitting down in here and hanging out,” Rodriguez said.
The coffee shop has changed its usual hours from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. hours with the move. Nosy Neighbors is now open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays and Mondays and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Tuesday to Saturday.
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