LAFAYETTE, CALIFORNIA – One of Lafayette’s most noticeable long-vacant commercial buildings appears headed for a new chapter.
This building sits in a prominent spot in downtown Lafayette. And it’s been prominently empty–and dated looking–for years.
Now, it appears poised to transform. We drove by and noticed construction signs in the windows. And there’s more details on what the building will soon become.
The building is at 3667 Mt. Diablo Blvd., across from the new Western Flyer Brewing and near Trader Joes. It has sat vacant for years in a highly visible spot along one of Lafayette’s main corridors.
Public city records now point to that address becoming Lafayette Family Market, a new convenience-focused neighborhood grocery shop that was previously submitted to the city as a Circle K proposal before being reworked into a more locally branded concept.
That change matters because the building has become something of a local landmark of inactivity. Lafayette’s Housing Element materials described 3667 Mt. Diablo Blvd. as a vacant office building and parking area, and city hearing materials say the prior use was an office building.
A letter submitted during the approval process also said the Lescure Company, a mechanical contractor, operated from the storefront and basement for more than 40 years.
The project took a long and somewhat controversial path through City Hall. In September 2024, the Lafayette City Council voted 5-0 to approve a land use permit for a convenience market at the site after an appeal of the Planning Commission’s earlier denial.
The council approved the project with conditions, including a 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. operating window, rules requiring delivery trucks to use the rear, and requirements related to garbage handling and bike parking.
By the time that approval happened, the proposal had already started shifting away from the original Circle K branding.
During the hearing, architect Muthana Ibrahim and others involved with the project told the council they were rethinking the branding, and grocery veteran Ronnie Crabtree said they were excited about the concept as Lafayette Family Market — describing it as a locally owned store that would emphasize natural foods and hyper-local items.
That same name also appears on project plan sheets for 3667 Mt. Diablo Blvd., which label the site as Lafayette Family Market rather than Circle K or Fast Fill. A 2025 Lafayette Planning Commission annual report likewise referred to the project as “Lafayette Family Market (formerly submitted as a Circle K).”
For longtime Lafayette watchers, the location has felt especially important because of where it sits. The building is right along Mt. Diablo Boulevard near Diamond K and across from a part of west Lafayette that is already changing.
During city discussions, officials repeatedly noted the building’s proximity to nearby residences and to new housing coming into the area, which was one reason the hours and operating conditions became such a major issue.
The property itself has been in private hands for years. Public real estate records list the building as a 4,637-square-foot property built in 1949, with a recorded 2016 sale price of $2.5 million.
With construction appearing to be underway, this Lafayette spot could transform quickly. Make sure to join our free 925 News newsletter so we can share regular updates.
