SLO Brew closes its downtown bar, restaurant after 33 years – ‘victims of the pandemic’
A prominent bar and restaurant has closed after more than 30 years in downtown San Luis Obispo.
The Carrisa by SLO Brew has shut its doors at 736 Higuera St., its co-owner confirmed Thursday. The business is part of Hamish Marshall and Rodney Cegelski’s SLO Brew company.
Originally known as SLO Brew, The Carrisa temporarily shuttered after California issued a regional stay-at-home order for Southern California, including San Luis Obispo County, in December 2020. The order was lifted Jan. 25.
Rather than reopen, The Carissa’s owners have decided to close permanently, creating yet another tenant vacancy on Higuera Street, which has been heavily impacted by COVID-19 and other business challenges.
“We made the decision to close to focus our energy and efforts on our other business operations,” which include the hotel located above The Carrisa, SLO Brew Lofts, Marshall said.
The company also owns SLO Brew Rock restaurant and Rod & Hammer SLO Stills distillery, both located at 855 Aerovista Place near the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport.
“We hope a new tenant will occupy the (downtown) space soon,” Marshall said, “and we’re already discussing that possibility with other businesses interested in moving in.”
According to Marshall, coronavirus-restrictions on indoor and outdoor dining hurt sales at The Carrisa over the past 11 months.
“We were absolutely the victims of the pandemic,” he said. “It was like trying to do business with two hands tied behind our back.”
SLO Brew owns the building that includes SLO Brew Lofts, which features five luxury short-term vacation rentals and a rooftop deck overlooking San Luis Creek. The lofts will continue operating after a new tenant moves in, Marshall said.
SLO Brew Rock, which offers craft beers and a full food menu, will continue operating along with the SLO Brew brewery, which distributes products such as Cali-Squeeze and A-SLO-Ha IPA in seven states.
Rod & Hammer’s SLO Stills, part of the SLO Brew Rock complex, also remains open.
“The Rock is really well set up for outdoor dining and our other operations there,” Marshall said.
History of SLO Brew, The Carrisa
Originally established in 1988 and located on Garden Street, SLO Brew was first owned by Mike Hoffman and Kathy Ireland and featured a billiards hall downstairs, with a brewery and live music upstairs, according to the business’ website.
Marshall stepped in as a new owner in 2010.
After 27 years on Garden Street, SLO Brew moved to a new Higuera Street spot in 2016. SLO Brew Rock launched the following year.
After SLO Brew had its alcohol license suspended in the summer of 2019 due to an underage drinking incident, the business shut down to remodel, revise its menu and hire several new employees.
SLO Brew rebranded as The Carrisa in September 2019. It employed about 100 workers before the coronavirus pandemic hit.
Before the closure, the business had about 25 employees. Some transferred over to SLO Brew Rock and the brewery and others found other jobs, Marshall said.
After its makeover, The Carrisa promoted a comfortable, lounge atmosphere, where patrons sipped on mixed drinks amid original white-washed brick walls, narrow wood-plank flooring and pressed tin ceilings. The location also featured fire pits and soft teak couches in an outdoor space backing up to the creek.
“The new business will really love this spot because of all the upgrades we made,” Marshall said.
Downtown SLO businesses hit hard by coronavirus
With the shuttering of The Carrisa, a walk along Higuera Street reveals several empty storefronts.
The local economy has been hit by recent business closures, many of them related to the coronavirus pandemic. Shuttered Higuera Street businesses include Abercrombie & Fitch, Beverly’s Fabric & Crafts, Express, Jules D., Oasis Restaurant and Rocket Fizz.
The Sock Drawer closed its brick-and-mortar store on Higuera Street in 2020, but remains open online with a warehouse located on South Higuera Street.
At the same time, the downtown area has seen some new businesses moving in.
Buen Dia Design opened its doors near the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art in December 2020.
In January, Monika’s Macarons opened at 1127 Broad St., Suite A, and Chinelo Mexican Restaurant opened at 1131 Broad St., next door to Big Sky Cafe.
This story was originally published February 11, 2021 at 2:25 PM.
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