Dozens of new businesses are opening in San Luis Obispo amid the COVID-19 pandemic, taking a leap of faith they can succeed during a time when many local businesses have shut their doors.
Since June 1, 129 new businesses had opened in San Luis Obispo as of Thursday, according to a city list of those who have obtained business licenses.
The list didn’t factor in an additional 24 businesses with residential rentals doing business within city limits that require a license, bringing the total to 153 companies overall. Those businessess are differentiated by the city in terms of economic impact.
“It shows people have faith this will turn around, better times are on the horizon and that SLO is a good place to do business,” said Brigitte Elke, San Luis Obispo’s finance director. “There is expectation (that) in 2021 things could open up ...
“SLO has a big employment market and when you have a bigger base of consumers that’s helpful as well, in addition to tourism, which we’ll be watching closely moving forward.”
New companies that have secured businesses licenses consist of the following industries: 38 general service; 31 general retailers; 35 professional service; 16 downtown-related accounts (six retail, four general service, and six professionals); four wholesalers; two general manufactures; two cannabis-related licenses and a contractor.
The wave of new licenses should help compensate for some of the economic damage San Luis Obispo County endured after 353 businesses ended operations in the city in the 2019-2020 financial year for reasons including retirements, online competition and coronavirus-related limitations and closures, according to city officials.
And it’s an indication that recent economic declines, which have included a $1 million drop in city sales tax revenues, haven’t been as devastating as forecasts initially showed.
Businesses in various stages of launching include SLO Wine Co., Pashion Footwear and Buttercup Beauty.
Skipper’s Brew Coffee House is located at 1242 Monterey St. It’s one of many businesses that have opened in San Luis Obispo since June 1, 2020. Laura Dickinson ldickinson@thetribunenews.com
Elke said there’s a lot of positive thinking about the Central Coast’s economic recovery, tied to the arrival of the coronavirus vaccine in San Luis Obispo County.
Downtown SLO CEO Bettina Swigger, whose nonprofit organization fosters economic vibrancy in downtown San Luis Obispo, said that she’s happy to see the number and variety of businesses opening.
“I’m really pleased to see how many new businesses are opening, including retailers, new eating options and art galleries,” Swigger said. “Some of the closures we’ve seen is the result of some of the sadness we’ve seen across the country. But think some business is flat, some is down and some are actually doing better than they were before, so it really depends.”
Based on her calls with downtown associations nationwide, Swigger said, San Luis Obispo hasn’t been hit nearly as hard as other U.S. cities, especially those in metropolitan areas.
“Some bigger cities have because virtual ghost towns with many empty storefronts and office spaces in their downtown,” Swigger said.
SLO leaders urge commu
San Luis Obispo is using parklets to encourage people to eat outside and space out to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Here, Courtney Colerick, Lucy Schwartzman and Shohreh Niku have dinner at Big Sky Cafe on Broad Street. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
nity support
Several local agencies and organizations are stepping up to help new and existing businesses in San Luis Obispo.
Downtown SLO has launched a host of measures to boost the economic vitality of the city, and aid small businesses in weathering the impacts of COVID-19.
Other efforts include Light Up Downtown, which features lavish holiday displays in Mission Plaza, and a kid-friendly scavenger hunt that leads participants through the downtown area with the chance to win prizes.
Under the regional stay-at-order, stores are allowed to remain open at 20% capacity. That’s helping as well, Swigger said.
“A key distinction from the (shutdown) order earlier this year is that stores can remain open (at 20%),” Swigger said. “Shopping is permitted in a safe environment.”
The San Luis Obispo City Council approved $3.4 million in local stimulus spending to support new and existing businesses. That includes $20 gift cards for shoppers who spend at least $100 at local restaurants, retail stores, gyms and more.
San Luis Obispo County’s unemployment rate fell to 5.4% in November, down from 5.9% in October, according to data released Friday by the San Luis Obispo County Workforce Development Board. County officials warn that the latest number may not reflect the impact of the most recent stay-at-home order on industries.
That’s compared to April, when county unemployment was around 13.7%.
Before the coronavirus pandemic hit the county, unemployment was down to 3%, said Diana Marin, San Luis Obispo County’s business services specialist.
“It will be interesting to see if some of the businesses or professionals who left their spaces because of the pandemic start coming back,” Marin said.
Which new businesses opened in SLO?
Here are the 129 new San Luis Obispo businesses that have secured licenses this fiscal year, as of Thursday:
DBA
Renee Weber
Alyssa Ruby Photography
Christiana’s Dance CLub
SLO Piercing
Velotubes LLC
SLO Delicious
Skipper’s Brew Coffee House
Cosmetologist
Hair Stylist, makeup artist
Natalie Jane Hair
Smart Tech Design
Wren Foods
Right Choice Design
Sage and Stone Events
Surpoint Studio
Amy Liston, Ph.D.
Tolosa Tax
Dewey Weber Surfboards
Purist Natural Medicine
Purist Natural Medidcine
Trujillo Commercial Real Estate Group
Actor’s Edge
ParsonsTeK, LLC
Teazer World Tea Market
Total Spectrum Counseling
Lomeli Law
Buen Dia
Pippa & Ky
Ragtag Wine Co.
Green Cures & Botanical Distribution Inc.
Kolofer Chiropractic inc.
Lozano Smith LLP
Autumn Cake Design LLC
AKLASS AESTHETICS
Grapevine Land Management, LLC
Sophia May Aesthetics
The Cheeky Parlor
SMRT LLC
Ivory Heller
Preston Thomas
Kelsey Ann Kehoe
Santana Maintenance
Central Coast Surgical Consulting
The Sandercock Home
Trialomics, Inc.
Buttercup Beauty
Pashion Footwear
Crystal Mobile Phlebotomy
Chrus Sunderland Engineering Co.
Time Traveler Media LLC
Carter & Co. Real Estate Group, Inc. Homestay
Good Dog
Central Coast Institute for Plastic Surgery, AMC
Magon Parkland Rental
Trilo Byte Technology Group, LLC
Simply Nourish
Megan’s Organic Market SLO
Above Grade Automation, Inc.
AK Company
Peralta Vacation Rental
Oki Kohi Espresso Bar
Central Coast Auto Repair
My Friend Mike’s
Tony’s Glass Pipes and Accessories
CCCFitness
Adrienne I. Greve
Coastal Delivery SLO, LLC
Dimensions of You
PBK ARCHITECTS, INC.
Trout Vacation Rental
Agent Based Learning Systems
Compass Health Inc., dba
Jonathan Biggane
Fresh & Sparkle Cleaning Service
JC Cleaning Solutions and Decluttering
SolarObispo
Arbor DVBE Services, Inc.
Geraldine Ool Sandahl Architect
Jennelle Lynn Art
PEAK Learning, Inc.
Timeless Services
Budraitis Books
Cottage Urgent Care
Nowhere Bound Inc.
Max Canaan Welding
Sepco Distribution Inc
Mundo Bars
SLO WINE CO
Honda Research Institute USA, Inc.
Bob’s Tractor Service
SLAKE Coffee
La Lomita Wines
Outward Wines
William Gerhardt
Lisa Lewis Coaching
Echo-Phoenix Wellness
Giftbar, Inc.
Off Day Trainer, Inc.
Wine Sneak
Mamamorphosis
Kasey Burgunder
Agri Connect Corp. DBA Harvestly
Spyglass Studios
Matilija Moon
ShotDOCMD
Bap Jo: Korean Street Food
Jenna Bailey
Workingman’s Bread LLC
FCPP Specialty Care Murray
Daysi’s Cleaning
G & G Janitorial Cleaning
Yaddi Company LLC
Northwest Paper Products Corp.
NNoble Consulting
Tech Savagery
San Luis Sports Therapy
All In Business Systems
Diesta Design Studio
Wesley C. Taylor
Salt and Light Therapy Services
Central Coast Pain Management Specialists, Inc.
SLO Spirits Bartending
Simple Math Tutors
MASON MORTGAGE SERVICES INC.
Recreational Equipment, Inc.
Aaron Burger Painting
Casa Pereira
Beacon Solutions LLC
Tre Fiamme Pizzeria Trattoria
This story was originally published December 21, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
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