Popular coach opens new pizza restaurant and sports bar in downtown SLO. Here’s a look
A pizza place with Paso Robles roots has opened a new location in downtown San Luis Obispo.
Bob Cantu, owner of Marv’s Pizza and Sports Bar, held a grand opening for his new restaurant, Bob Cantu’s Pizza and Sports Bar on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025.
“It’s kind of like a dream come true,” Cantu told The Tribune. “Now this is a chance to utilize my contacts locally, the fact that I’m a local, and open up a second restaurant and have friends and family come in and provide a great service for the community.”
While the new place will have all the same menu items as Marv’s, the biggest difference between the restaurants is the newcomer’s name.
Bob Cantu’s Pizza and Sports Bar is located at 1131 Broad St. in the spot formerly occupied by Tacos Y Birria Sinaloa.
It reflects Cantu’s reputation as a college basketball coach for over 25 years and owner of Marv’s for two years. Yet Cantu was skeptical about naming the pizza spot after himself.
“I don’t know if I want to bring that kind of attention to my name. I don’t know if that’s the right thing to do,” Cantu said. “Sometimes when you do that, you work against yourself. You’re not Domino’s, you’re not Round Table, you’re your name.”
After a pep talk from a close friend, however, Bob Cantu’s Pizza and Sports Bar was born.
“Every day is like a game. Did you win or lose?” Cantu said. “It was a little risky, and I was little nervous about it, but then I talked to other friends, and they said, ‘You spent 25, 30 years building a brand through basketball, all your memorabilia you’ve collected, just having a coach that’s going to be around for people to come by and have a pizza with, just being available in my community, let’s just go for it.’ That’s kind of why I did it.”
The eye-catching memorabilia from Marv’s will follow Cantu, as signed jerseys from Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman and more stars accompany cardboard cutouts, autographed balls and a Coaches Corner, where chairs from the arenas of University of Kansas and the Los Angeles Lakers are displayed with leather couches.
“They’re going to walk into a place with nine TVs, they’re all gonna have games on, they’re going to see legitimate NBA, the Kobe Bryant and the Chicago Bulls jerseys,” Cantu said. “You’re just going to go in and be impressed with the way it looks, and your eyes are going to be moving around the entire place.”
What’s on the menu at the new restaurant and sports bar?
Carrying over the menu from Marv’s, the new SLO spot offer pizza, chicken wings, pasta, sandwiches and salads.
The pizzas can also be ordered deep-dish, Chicago-style.
Two bars, indoor and outdoor, serve creative drinks under the umbrella of wine and draft beer, Cantu said.
“I’m excited. I’m pumped up,” he said. “I think people are going to enjoy watching games and having some drinks and eating some good food.”
For more information
Bob Cantu’s Pizza and Sports Bar’s hours are Monday and Wednesday from 4 to 10 p.m., Thursday from 12 p.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 1 a.m. and Sunday from 12 to 10 p.m.
For more information about Bob Cantu’s Pizza and Sports Bar, visit its website or call 805-439-0026.