Marston’s 101 restaurant in Atascadero to close suddenly after 4 years
Marston’s 101 restaurant in Atascadero will close on Tuesday after four years in business on the south end of the city.
The eatery will shut its doors after serving its final customers on New Year’s Eve, according to a post on the restaurant’s Facebook page. The post did not provide any reasons for the closure.
“We appreciate all of your support and loyalty over the last few years and hope to see you in the future again!” the post reads.
A manager confirmed Marston’s 101 is closing, but declined to provide any details and directed The Tribune to the restaurant’s owners, who didn’t immediately return calls requesting comments.
Marston’s 101 opened on West Front Road in 2016 near the Holiday Inn Express hotel. Co-owner Jeff Marston previously operated Marston’s Bar and Grill on Higuera Street in San Luis Obispo.
Marston closed that business in March 2018 to focus on his new Atascadero restaurant, which he owns with Josh Cantrell and Tyler Phillips.
The Marston’s 101 menu “(ran) the gamut from upscale pub fare to California cuisine,” featuring wings, burgers, clam chowder and wood-fired pizza, according to previous Tribune stories.
“Atascadero is more of a family town, a little mellower, so that’s what we’re going for here,” Marston said of his restaurant in 2017.
Angry customers and financial troubles
After hearing of the closure, some customers took to social media to express their frustration over being sold gift cards and Local Flavor coupons just before the restaurant announced it would be shutting down.
“Why would you guys sell my dad two $100 gift certificates less than two weeks ago if you knew you were closing the doors???” one customer wrote on the Marston’s 101 Facebook page.
The Marstons have apparently been dealing with financial difficulties — they didn’t pay their rent in November or December and have been trying to sell their liquor license, according to a civil lawsuit filed on Dec. 27 in San Luis Obispo County Superior Court.
The lawsuit — filed by Adam Pottmeyer, who owns the Marston’s 101 property — alleges the Marstons have been trying to sell their liquor license to a third party, even though their lease guarantees the landlord the first right of refusal.
Liquor licenses are difficult to obtain, and the restaurant’s property value would decrease without one, according to the lawsuit.
Civil lawsuits provide only plaintiffs’ points of view and don’t include defendants’ perspectives.
Pottmeyer is seeking damages and an injunction preventing the sale of the liquor license.
“The Marstons have breached the lease by, among other things, failing to pay rent due under the lease for the months of November and December 2019 and by failing to provide plaintiff with the notice of sale of the liquor license,” the lawsuit reads.
This story was originally published December 31, 2019 at 2:55 PM.
