Popular SLO sandwich shop closes doors after 15 years: ‘We struggled with this decision’
A popular San Luis Obispo sandwich shop closed its doors in July after 15 years in business.
Located at 1901 Broad St., the Broad Street Giant Grinder Shop was known for its East Coast-style grinders featuring fresh ingredients such as pastrami, meatballs and mozarella cheese.
Business owner Brad Fuller opened his sandwich shop in Manhattan Beach in 1970.
The Connecticut native and his wife relocated to San Luis Obispo County in 2008, where he opened his 10th sandwich shop at the Broad Street location.
After retiring at the end of 2019 and putting Broad Street Giant Grinder Shop on the market, Fuller sold the shop to husband-and-wife team Marty Budinger and Libby Waterbury, who had run the restaurant for the past three years.
According to a post on the Broad Street Giant Grinder Shop Facebook page, Budinger and Waterbury made the decision to close due to a number of challenges faced by many small businesses nationwide.
“We have struggled with this decision, but know it is the best for our family at this time,” the Facebook post read. “Battling a pandemic, labor shortages, supply chain issues and skyrocketing food costs has taken its toll.”
The sandwich shop’s final day was July 28.
According to the Facebook post, Budinger and Waterbury were “clearing out the shop in preparation for new tenants that will be an amazing addition to the neighborhood.”
They did not name the new tenants or specify when they would open in the Broad Street location.
Budinger and Waterbury will remain in San Luis Obispo, where their twin children are attending their final years at San Luis Obispo High School, according to the post.
“Marty and Libby are taking a moment to rebuild their mental reserves so they can continue to find ways to engage in this wonderful community for years to come,” the post read.
Requests for additional comment from Budinger and Waterbury were not immediately returned Tuesday afternoon.
This story was originally published August 9, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
