A bakery in San Francisco is facing legal trouble after allegedly deceiving its customers with hidden fees. On February 19, 2025, Alexander Xue filed a complaint in the Superior Court of California against Juniper Cafe, LLC, accusing the bakery of violating several consumer protection laws by secretly adding unauthorized charges to customer bills.
According to the complaint, Xue visited Juniper Cafe on February 9, 2025, and ordered baked goods and a beverage based on the prices displayed on the menu. However, upon reviewing his receipt later, he discovered an unexpected charge labeled as "Healthy SF Surcharge," which amounted to $1.88 or 4% of his pre-tax subtotal. Xue claims this fee was misleadingly placed under the "Taxes" section of the bill, giving it the appearance of a legitimate tax rather than an optional surcharge. The plaintiff argues that this practice constitutes "drip pricing," where businesses lure customers with low advertised prices only to add undisclosed fees during billing.
Xue's lawsuit alleges that Juniper Cafe violated multiple sections of California's Business and Professions Code and Civil Code by engaging in unfair competition and false advertising. Specifically, he cites violations of B.P.C. §§ 17200 et seq., B.P.C. §§ 17500 et seq., and Civ. Code §§ 1750 et seq., which prohibit fraudulent business practices and deceptive advertising methods. The complaint accuses Juniper Cafe of failing to clearly disclose mandatory surcharges on their menu or advertisements and using deceptive tactics to mislead customers about actual prices.
The plaintiff seeks various forms of relief from the court, including injunctive relief to prevent Juniper Cafe from continuing these practices, refunds for all affected customers who were charged hidden fees without proper disclosure, reimbursement for legal costs associated with filing the suit, and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court.
This case is being heard under Case ID CGC-25-622541 in San Francisco County's Superior Court. As Xue is representing himself pro se in this matter, there are no attorneys listed for him or Juniper Cafe at this time.