These SLO County businesses closed in 2019
Lots of new businesses opened in San Luis Obispo County this year, but plenty of others closed their doors, including restaurants, shops, grocery stores and winery tasting rooms.
Here are some of the local businesses that closed in 2019. (This list does not include businesses that changed names or moved to new locations.)
Restaurants and food stores
Broadway Bagel, Arroyo Grande and Pismo Beach
Two bagel restaurants shut their doors in December following the retirement of owner Sally Lauringson.
Lauringson opened Broadway Bagel at 1259 E. Grand Ave. in Arroyo Grande in 1996. She opened the Pismo Beach location at 503 5 Cities Drive, Suite B., about three years after the first, offering the same menu of bagels, sandwiches and soups.
The seafood-focused tapas restaurant closed in August, about five months after it opened at 1122 Chorro St.
Josh and Jeremy Pemberton, who owned Branzino in partnership with head chef Carlos Lool, had promised another high-profile project in downtown San Luis Obispo that never materialized. Their company, Discovery SLO, called off plans in 2018 for an entertainment center that would have featured a bowling alley, restaurant and concert venue.
Just six months after moving to a new Morro Bay location, the popular barbecue restaurant has closed its doors.
Brickhouse BBQ had moved five blocks from its original Main Street home to a larger spot at 810 Morro Bay Blvd. But that new restaurant, which opened in March, is “closed until further notice,” the restaurant announced in August.
Chili’s Grill & Bar, Arroyo Grande
Chili’s restaurant shut its doors at 991 Rancho Parkway in December.
The chain, known for its burgers, ribs and Tex Mex-inspired dishes, had two locations in San Luis Obispo County. The Chili’s in Paso Robles remains open.
Cookie Crock Warehouse, Morro Bay
The grocery store at 490 Quintana Road closed in April.
Advertised as the longest continuously operated independent supermarket on the Central Coast, Cookie Crock started as a bakery in 1965. The locally owned and operated company still has a store open in Cambria.
Cookie Crook’s Arroyo Grande location closed in 2014. That spot is now occupied by discount grocery store Aldi.
Downtown Donut Factory, San Luis Obispo
Advertised as San Luis Obispo’s first do-it-yourself doughnut shop, Downtown Donut Factory closed after just six months.
The restaurant celebrated its grand opening at 847 Higuera St., the former location of Teaberry Frozen Yogurt Cafe, in September 2018. By mid-March, it had shuttered its doors.
El Matador Authentic Mexican Food, San Luis Obispo
The Mexican restaurant closed at 1032 Chorro St. in February after nearly two years in business.
It was replaced by another eatery that specializes in authentic Mexican flavors, San Luis Taqueria.
Fromagerie Sophie, San Luis Obispo
The European-inspired cheese shop closed its doors in March after more than five years in business.
Owners Sophie and Paul Doering made the decision to close the store at 1129 Garden St. “based on their desire to achieve a better work-life balance and to spend more time” with their families, according to a news release.
After 28 years at 1145 24th St., the burger joint closed its doors in December.
Good Ol’ Burgers owner Roger Sharp, who also owns Big Bubba’s Bad BBQ and Tortilla Town in Paso Robles, plans to open a fast-casual eatery in its place — Crazy Asian Express.
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Owner Adnan Saleh closed the popular Mediterranean restaurant after 18 years.
Originally located in the former Cornerstone Market and Deli on Higuera Street, Jaffa Cafe moved to 1308 Monterey St. in the MIX on Monterey building in 2013.
Jaffa Cafe restaurants in Arroyo Grande and Santa Maria remain open.
The eatery shut its doors at 9006 West Front Road after serving its final customers on New Year’s Eve.
Marston’s 101 opened 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, but closed that business in 2018 to focus on his Atascadero location.
Noi’s Little Thai Takeout, Los Osos
After 25 years of curries and noodle dishes, the popular Thai takeout spot closed at 1288 Second St. in June.
Fortunately for fans, sister restaurant Noi and Doi’s Second Street Cafe remains open down the street at 1325 Second St.
After 48 years of fresh seafood, the popular seaside restaurant closed its doors on the Harford Pier.
The Olde Port Inn opened at the Port San Luis Harbor District location in 1971. The restaurant switched ownership in 2015 from Leonard Cohen to longtime chef and manager David Whitestine.
Park Street Grill, Paso Robles
Park Street Grill has closed at 1344 Park St. after two years in business. But catering “continues as usual,” according to a sign on the restaurant’s door.
Owners John and Nancy McDevitt opened the eatery under a different name, Farmstead Kitchen & Catering, in 2017. A year later, a Napa restaurant that also goes by Farmstead Kitchen approached the McDevitts, requiring the name change.
Planted Juice Bar and Eatery, Arroyo Grande
The health food restaurant has closed its doors at 201 Branch St., about two years after it opened.
Located in the historic Village of Arroyo Grande, Planted specialized in plant-based, vegan-friendly foods, including organic juices and smoothies and salads.
After 43 years of omelets, restaurant owners Jeff and Marlene Richardson decided to retire and sell their breakfast-and-lunch spot.
The property at 1326 Second St. was sold to Randy “Doobie” Coates, owner of San Luis Obispo sandwich shop High Street Deli. Coates plans to transform the Los Osos space into Randy’s Shack, a “fast-casual eatery” that serves burgers, sandwiches, fish tacos and more, he told The Tribune in June.
Skipper’s Family Restaurant, Cayucos
The venerable North Coast restaurant closed its doors at 113 N. Ocean Ave. in April after 39 years in business.
The restaurant shuttered in May after serving one final Mother’s Day brunch.
Owners Michael and Kelly Stevens closed Tanner Jacks after 13 years at 2796 S. Halcyon Road. They family also owns Palo Mesa Pizza, which has four locations in Arroyo Grande and San Luis Obispo.
Vegetable Butcher, San Luis Obispo
After two years of tacos and cocktails, this Latin American-inspired restaurant closed its doors at 712 Marsh St.
Vegetable Butcher co-owner and executive chef Becky Windels told The Tribune that construction in the downtown area played a factor in that decision. Work on nearby Hotel Cerro, tentatively slated to open in August, “presented intense difficulties,” she said.
These restaurants also closed in 2019:
- Chubby Chandler’s Pizza, 1304 Railroad St., Paso Robles
- City Market, 609 Creston Road, Paso Robles
- Poke Chef, 950 Price St., Pismo Beach
- Rincon Oaxaqueno, 715 6th St., Paso Robles
- Scotty’s BBQ and Catering, 5940 El Camino Real, Atascadero
- Spring Seafood Bar & Grill, 1215 Spring St., Paso Robles
Bars, wineries and tasting rooms
Morovino Winery, Avila Beach
The winery’s Avila Beach tasting room closed in April.
Owners Andrea and David Bradford purchased Morovino Winery from founder Gerry Moro in 2007, moving the winery’s tasting room from Solvang to Avila Beach, according to Tribune archives.
The Bradfords closed the Morovino tasting room at 468 Front St. in Avila Beach “in order to focus on David’s health issues,” they wrote on the winery’s website in April. The move came after their landlord declined to renew their lease, they said.
Phantom Rivers Wine, Arroyo Grande
After 15 years of producing wine on the Central Coast, Phantom Rivers Wine announced it was shutting its doors at the end of May.
In March, winemaker John Thunen told The Tribune that he and his other partners decided to retire the business, which had a tasting room at 211 E. Branch St. in the Village of Arroyo Grande, rather than sell it. “Our partners are anxious to say that it is time to move on,” he said then.
Spike’s Pub shuttered in May after 38 years of craft beers in downtown San Luis Obispo.
The American-style pub opened at 570 Higuera St. in 1981. Moving into Spike’s former Creamery Marketplace spot is Bear and the Wren, a restaurant that got its start as a food truck.
Other bars and tasting rooms that closed in 2019 include:
- Grizzly Republic Wines, 840 13th St., Suite F, Paso Robles
- Nipomo Wine Group, 211 East Branch St., Arroyo Grande
Shops
2 Blondes Boutique, San Luis Obispo
After five years in downtown San Luis Obispo, the clothing store announced in December that it was closing its doors.
2 Blondes Boutique, which catered to middle-aged and older women, announced in July that it was up for sale. But the business at 1115 Broad St. failed to find buyers.
Celadon House, San Luis Obispo
The furniture store left downtown San Luis Obispo in February after its owners parted ways with plans to open separate stores of their own.
Business partners Kelli Thornton and Cherisse Sweeney had co-owned the Higuera Street furniture store at 766 Higuera St. for about five years.
Sweeney opened a new store at the Higuera location in April, Basalt Interiors.
Charles Shoes, San Luis Obispo
After more than 50 years in business, the family-owned business announced in August that it was closing its doors.
Charles Shoes had sold and repaired shoes at 867 Higuera St. since 1966.
Femme Jules D., San Luis Obispo
About six months after opening a women-centered version of their popular men’s lifestyle boutique, Jules D., owners Jules and Jeff Durocher decided to close Femme Jules D at 691 Higuera St.
Jules D., which opened in 2012, remains open at 672 Higuera St. in San Luis Obispo.
Flanders Bicycle, San Luis Obispo
The bike shop shut its doors at 1951 Santa Barbara Ave., Suite D, in July after eight years in business.
In addition to selling bicycles, Flanders Bicycle operated a full-service bike shop with mechanics on hand to provide repairs and build custom bikes and wheels. But financial pressures forced the business to close, owner Shawn Hafley said.
The clothing store chain closed its Downtown Centre location at 879 Higuera St. in January.
News of the closure came in December 2018, after Gap announced plans to shutter hundreds of under-performing stores nationwide.
Athleta, a women’s workout wear brand also owned and operated by The Gap Co., opened in the downtown San Luis Obispo spot in August.
John’s Video Palace, Atascadero
One of San Luis Obispo’s last remaining video rental stores closed on Christmas Day after 31 years in business.
John’s Video Palace moved in July from its longtime location on El Camino Real in Atascadero to a new spot down the road, only to shutter months later.
A second North County location, John’s Video Palace in Paso Robles, remains open on Niblick Road.
K. Jons Diamonds and Gems, Atascadero
After four decades in the jewelry business, K. Jons owners Stan and Mary Sherwin are retiring and closing their much-loved store.
The K. Jons showroom at 5255 El Camino Real will close after the holidays, the Sherwins told The Tribune in November.
San Luis Obispo County’s last Kmart store is closing, the retailer’s holding company announced in November.
The store, located at El Camino Real in Atascadero, will shut its doors by February 2020. Kmart stores in Arroyo Grande and Santa Maria closed in the spring of 2018.
Marshalls Jewelers, San Luis Obispo
The jewelry store closed in January after 129 years in San Luis Obispo.
Owner Jeff McKeegan started worked at Marshalls Jewelers, located at 751 Higuera St., in 1981 and purchased the store in 1993. He decided to shutter the shop rather than sell it, he told The Tribune in December 2018.
Payless ShoeSource, Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo
Payless ShoeSource confirmed in February that it was declaring bankruptcy and closing all 2,100 of its U.S. stores.
The closure included the two remaining Payless locations in San Luis Obispo County: one off Madonna Road in San Luis Obispo and the other on Niblick Road in Paso Robles.
A Payless ShoeSource store in Arroyo Grande closed in 2017, when the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Five Cities Center spot is now a Blaze Pizza restaurant.
!Romp Shoes, San Luis Obispo
The downtown shoe store closed in doors at 714 Higuera St. in April after 14 years in business.
!Romp Shoes owner Karen English announced via Facebook that she was retiring and shuttering the shop. She opened a !Romp store in Los Osos in 2013 that closed four years later.
Stephanie’s Hallmark Shop, San Luis Obispo
The last Hallmark store in San Luis Obispo County closed its doors in August.
The store, which had called the Madonna Plaza shopping center home for nearly 40 years, opened at 281 Madonna Road, Suite A, in 1981.
SLO Bike and Run, San Luis Obispo
After six years in business, the sports equipment and clothing store at 883 Marsh St. closed in August.
Husband-and-wife team Scott and Debbie Gower owned a similar sports store, Go For It Sports in Atascadero, that closed in 2018. They’ll continue to sell sports gear and nutrition products through their company, Go For It Sports, Inc., at race expos.
These local shops and stores also closed in 2019:
- Beary Cute Bears & Mice, 102 E. Branch St., Suite F, Arroyo Grande
- The Bling Boutique Too!, 620 Cypress St., Pismo Beach
- Couch Potato Paso, 1240 Spring St., Paso Robles
- Donovan James Antiques & Estate Jewelry, 248 S. Ocean Ave., Cayucos
- English Rose Antiques and Collectibles, 5940 Entrada Ave., Atascadero
- La Petite Boutique, 317 Morro Bay Blvd., Morro Bay
- Never Not Knitting, 5990 Entrada Ave., Atascadero
- The Old Potting Bench, 134 Nelson St., Suite E, Arroyo Grande
- Pierside Boards & Bikes, 519 Cypress St., Pismo Beach
- Refinery, 840 13th St., Suite A, Paso Robles
- Tamed Wild Apothecary, 144 W. Branch St., Arroyo Grande
- Timeless Treasures Home Consignments, 4554 Broad St., Suite No. 220, San Luis Obispo
- Wheel Fun Rentals, 630 Cypress St., Pismo Beach
Other businesses
Crystal Springs Water Co., San Luis Obispo
Nestle took over ownership of Crystal Springs Walter Co. in August.
The full-service local water company launched in San Luis Obispo around 1905, when a local school teacher began selling water from a spring at what is now Rockview Place near the South Hills Open Space. The Mulay family bought the business in 1944, delivering bottles to a service area stretching from Paso Robles to Santa Ynez.
This story was originally published December 31, 2019 at 4:45 AM.
