Downtown SLO bar, event venue temporarily closed after alcohol license is suspended
The Carrisa in downtown San Luis Obispo is temporarily closed after the state suspended its license Thursday.
A sign posted to the window of the Higuera Street venue space on Thursday night alerted the public that the “licenses issued for these premises have been suspended by order of the state department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.”
Further signage posted on the building indicated the closure was due to reported violations in 2021 and 2022.
“While the Carrisa won against all counts, the ABC subsequently appealed the violations and the establishment will temporarily cease operations under its liquor license for a period of 25 days starting March 7,” read a sign from “The Carrisa Team.”
The business is expected to be closed until April 1.
“The Carrisa takes matters of compliance and public safety seriously and we have already taken immediate action to address the issues raised by the ABC,” the sign read. “We appreciate the support of the community and patrons, and we are confident that The Carrisa will emerge from this temporary closure stronger and more committed than ever to upholding the highest standards of service.”
The sign said further updates on the closure and operations would be communicated via the business’s social media pages.
It is unclear what the nature of the violations were that prompted the closure.
Three licenses under the Carrisa name — one for catering and two for on-sale general brew-pub — were all still listed as active on the ABC’s website as of Thursday. The license report did note that operating restrictions existed on the licenses, but did not specify what those were.
A FAQ also taped to the window of the downtown business said only that the closure was due to “a number of ABC violations which occurred between 2021 and 2022,” and noted the management team could not talk about the specifics.
A request for further comment from Carrisa media representatives was not immediately returned Thursday night.
After a brief closure during the coronavirus pandemic, The Carrisa — owned by SLO Brew business partners Rodney Cegelski and Hamish Marshall — switched from operating as a restaurant and bar to primarily a venue for hosting events, though it did continue to host Sunday brunches.
It also added The Whiskey Lounge, which featured a full bar, whiskey tastings and shareable dinners, according to the website.
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