AJ Spurs in Templeton closes after 30 years. What’s next for the restaurant?
After more than 30 years of serving up massive chuckwagon-style meals in an Old West setting, a new future is on the horizon for a favorite Templeton restaurant.
A group of five buyers in December purchased the original AJ Spurs — which opened on South Main Street in 1989 — and plans to revamp it and transform it into a new restaurant honoring the community and its history.
The chain’s South County locations in Grover Beach and Buellton remain open, as the now-closed Templeton restaurant was the only property sold.
The eatery was previously owned by Milt Guggia, who purchased all the AJ Spurs restaurants in 2006, according to public property records.
Guggia also owns several other Central Coast dining mainstays, including Pea Soup Andersen’s in Buellton. That restaurant was also recently listed for sale, the Lompoc Record reported.
The AJ Spurs in Templeton has been listed for sale on and off since late 2019, according to online real estate listings.
Corban Holland of Pacifica Commercial Realty said Guggia wanted to sell the property because it was his only business above the Cuesta Grade.
Guggia didn’t want to sell the AJ Spurs restaurant, just the property, as the other two locations remain in business, Holland said.
“It’s hard,” Holland said. “He loved the building. He loved the spot.”
What’s next for old AJ Spurs?
The restaurant is a very visible part of the downtown Templeton landscape, something the the new owners value, said Taylor Odenwald, one of the new owners.
Odenwald, owner of Odenwald Hand Built, said one of his first jobs was at AJ Spurs, and he’s always dreamed of buying the restaurant.
“I’ve been 80% joking, 90% joking about owning AJ’s for the past 20 years,” he said.
The partners saw an opportunity to improve a place that’s important to North County residents.
“We all grew up in this area and know it as more than wine country,” Odenwald said.
The restaurant is sprawling — the main building covers 7,375 square feet — and in need of renovation, which may have deterred other buyers, Odenwald said.
“Our goal is kind of to help revitalize that building, in a sense,” Odenwald said.
The partners plan to completely revamp the property and turn it into a space that pays tribute to the community, but without the AJ Spurs trademark antique Western style, Odenwald said.
One sign of this change was a recent renovation sale, where residents had the opportunity to purchase antiques, dishes and other restaurant supplies the new owners don’t plan on using in the future.
“It’s got cool bones and cool history,” Odenwald said of the building. “We plan on keeping it dedicated to Templeton as much as possible.”
The partners are in the process of planning renovations and hiring a chef. They’re hoping to potentially begin offering outdoor dining on the patio in the late spring or early summer, with indoor dining to come later, Odenwald said.
Everything remains dependent on the renovation timeline and COVID-19 restrictions.
“We’re working on bringing it back to its former glory,” Odenwald said.
This story was originally published January 22, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
