Beloved Homestyle Comfort Food Shop Coming To San Mateo County

SAN MATEO, CA — Locals in San Mateo can soon have a holiday dinner any day of the week when a popular homestyle store known for delicious meats and sides comes to town.

The Honey Baked Ham Co., a 450-unit National chain, is preparing to open a new location in San Mateo, bringing its renowned food to the Peninsula.

The company has identified San Mateo as a prime expansion market.

"San Mateo just kept drifting up close to the top of our list," said Eric Edwards, Honey Baked Ham head of franchise development. "It's a great area that's currently underserved, and it's extremely high on our radar nationally."

There are currently Honey Baked Ham locations in the Bay Area in Concord, Colma, Oakland, Pleasanton, Stockton and San Jose serving up a variety of delicious meats like their perfectly crafted ham and roasted turkey along with mouthwatering sides such as country cornbread stuffing and cheesy potatoes au gratin. Or choose from a variety of sandwich meal options.

The company is actively looking for a local franchisee to establish the San Mateo location before the 2026 holiday season. This store is expected to create 10-14 jobs year-round, potentially doubling during the holidays.

"We want to get a store open, get it established, and understand its customer base," Edwards said. "We're not looking to blanket the area, but to grow responsibly."

Honey Baked Ham was originally founded in 1957 in Detroit and now is based in Alpharetta, Georgia. The company has found particular success in California with stores that have become a holiday tradition for many families, according to Edwards.