Holiday cheer: Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Co. reopens after Thanksgiving car crash

LOS GATOS, Calif. (KGO) -- Los Gatos residents received an early Christmas present, as the Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company reopened to customers once again.

The shop was packed full of people to get themselves a cup of cheer.

Owner and founder Teri Hope says it's only 50% the usual capacity with a smaller staff, but it returns a sense of normality.

This comes after a car crash that shuttered the town institution for nearly a month.

RELATED: Shocking video shows 90-year-old man speeding, crashing into Los Gatos coffee shop on Thanksgiving

A car plowed into a coffee shop in Los Gatos on Thanksgiving night. The driver was a 90-year-old man. Police say alcohol might have played a role.

"People come every morning and meet each other to have coffee and a conversation," Julene Piel said. "It's a community center for us."

"All the people in town were just feeling so bad for Teri and I'm so happy that they were able to reopen so quickly, on this side at least," Karen Vincent said.

While the part of the shop with the espresso bar is now reopened, the side with cafe where the car went through remains closed after the serious damage.

A 90-year-old man died after crashing into the shop on Thanksgiving night.

The community immediately rallied in support, raising more than $50,000 for employees through a GoFundMe.

Hope was unable to speak on camera due to illness, but shared her appreciation for the community with us saying: "the generosity and outpouring of concern has been deeply touching and very meaningful - but not surprising given the wonderful people of Los Gatos."

"She's very well-respected and loved throughout the community," Vincent said. "We have an attachment to the workers, we miss them and we wanted to make sure their lives are okay."

"Their presence in the community matters and the way they do their business, it's always an outreach to everyone," Piel said.

Hope says repairs on the damaged side of the building may take several months or more.

But she and her team remain dedicated to serving the people of Los Gatos, who have supported the Coffee Roasting Company for four decades.