Tin City spot closes and a new beach sandwich shop opens. Today’s top stories
The Tribune covered a range of news across San Luis Obispo County on May 26, 2026, from business openings and closures to politics, weather and public safety.
Here’s a digest of the day’s top stories:
- Tin City Cider closes tap house: Tin City Cider Co. closed its Paso Robles tap house on May 24 after nearly a decade, though its cider will continue selling at select Central Coast stores through Pacific Beverage distribution, one of Tin City’s original craft beverage makers announced. Co-founder Curt Schalchlin said he will now focus on his Sans Liege Wines and The Fableist Wine Company ventures.
- New sandwich shop opens in Pismo Beach: Swell Sandwich Shop opened April 23 on Pomeroy Avenue, with 22-year-old owner Geneva Franciskovich investing about $115,000 of her savings into the business. The shop serves cold cut sandwiches priced at $10, with the signature Swell Sandwich emerging as the fan favorite.
- Hilton pitches affordability at Cal Poly: Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton told roughly 300 supporters at a Cal Poly town hall Sunday that California’s affordability crisis is driving young people and working families out of the state. Hilton proposed eliminating income tax on the first $100,000 of earnings, capping hidden taxes and cutting electric bills in half.
- Rejected mail-in ballots surge in SLO County: SLO County’s rejected mail-in ballot rate jumped from 0.77% in 2024 to 2.05% in 2025, amounting to roughly 2,398 thrown-out ballots. County clerk-recorder Elaina Cano blamed a USPS policy change that no longer guarantees same-day postmarking in rural areas, noting the county’s nearest processing hub is more than 70 miles away in Goleta.
- Bomb squad responds in Grover Beach: The Grover Beach Police Department responded to a report of a suspicious device near Le Sage and Highway 1 at 2:02 p.m. Tuesday. The SLO County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad rendered the device safe by 2:26 p.m., and roadways including the Grand Avenue entrance to Oceano Dunes reopened.
- Car fire on Highway 101: A car’s engine caught fire on northbound Highway 101 near Santa Margarita around 1:26 p.m. Tuesday, and the vehicle became fully engulfed in flames within five minutes, igniting nearby vegetation. The California Highway Patrol reported no injuries.
- Wind advisory and rain in the forecast: The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for SLO County from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday, with northwest winds up to 25 mph and gusts reaching 35 mph. Patchy drizzle is expected Wednesday with a 20% chance of precipitation that night.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.