This corner Adobe joining the Cooper house was sold to Manual Diaz by Nathan Spear in 1845 who lived there and operated a dry-goods store. In 1869, Honoré Escolle, a French émigré, took over the store, opening Pioneer Bakery. Manual's wife, Luisa, continued to live in the house until 1900, and the corner store became known as the "Diaz Adobe". After John Cooper passed in 1872 the property passed to his wife Encarnacion, which in turn passed onto their daughter, Anita Wohler. She eventually purchased back the corner store and updated it with Eusebio Molera. Wohler died in 1912 and left the property to her niece, Frances Molera. It changed hands many times as Frances rented it to various local businesses.
Frances died in 1968 and left the property to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Thanks to two renovations since then with California State Parks and The National Trust for Historic Preservation, the corner store is now Alta Bakery. Ben Spungin and Kirk Probasco opened Alta Bakery and Café in April of 2019 which houses an indoor seating area with the "Diaz Gallery" for local artists as well as a sunny outside garden seating area.
Visit Alta Bakery + Cafe Website here.
The Barns at Cooper-Molera have been transformed into a state-of-the-art event center, while retaining their historic finishes and original character. Our commercial partner, Events by Classic, has a long and successful history of hosting public and private events in Monterey—and now offer the Cooper Molera barn complex as one of the premier event sites in the area.
Visit The Barns at Cooper Molera here.
Come visit the historic Cooper-Molera Adobe, nestled in Downtown Monterey, where Alta Bakery & Cella Restaurant welcomes you to experience the abundance of the Central Coast. With sleek venues featuring a heated outdoor pergola and the adobe’s Diaz Sala, where we reimagine early California charm. Our accomplished team remains dedicated to providing a memorable service for any occasion. Whether you’re savoring a culinary delight from our legendary local dynamic duo, Chefs Ben Spungin and Cal Stamenov, or inviting them into your kitchen for a curated catering experience, each dish promises an appreciation of our local ingredients. Barkeep, Joshua Perry, and General Manager, Bernabe De Luna collaborate on our beverage program including a creative take on seasonal cocktails, winemaker’s dinners, and bar classes. No matter the size of occasion, our staff aims to craft unforgettable memories steeped in charm and hospitality.
