Businesses that closed in SLO County in 2021, from Abercrombie to Mandarin Gourmet
Businesses searching for a reprieve from the coronavirus pandemic in 2021 experienced more challenges after the summer-time delta surge and creep of omicron led to more health restrictions and temporary closures.
Business owners told the Tribune that some businesses closed because they could not weather the coronavirus pandemic for another year, while others simply ran their course and the owners were ready for retirement.
Here are some of the local businesses that closed their doors in 2021.
Banks, medical and post offices that closed in 2021
Bank of the Sierras, Arroyo Grande and Atascadero
The Tulare county-based Bank of the Sierras closed two of its five locations in San Luis Obispo County in June.
After closing the branches in Arroyo Grande and Atascadero, the Bank of the Sierras has three remaining locations in the county — in San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach and Paso Robles, according to a previous Tribune report.
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After 113 years in the tiny South County community of Halcyon, the post office closed its location permanently in March.
The post office, which was a branch of the Arroyo Grande post office, opened in a different location in 1908 and moved to 936 South Halcyon Road in 1947.
Over the years, the location transformed based on its owners — housing a store, library, health food grocery, gas station and a New Age shop at various points, according to a Tribune report at the time of the closure.
Although the post office closed permanently, the Halcyon Store has since relocated to a new space in Grover Beach.
JP Morgan Chase Bank, San Luis Obispo
The San Luis Obispo branch of JP Morgan Chase Bank closed its location in the Promenade Shopping Center around September.
This was one of many businesses in the Promenade that closed in 2021 — including Tahoe Joe’s and Dollar Tree, as well as other businesses in 2020 — according to a Tribune report.
Lags Medical Center, San Luis Obispo County
The pain management clinics, which had six locations throughout San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties and other locations nationwide, closed suddenly in May, leaving patients scrambling, according to a Tribune report.
The medical center had two clinics in Santa Maria plus one each in Lompoc, Santa Barbara, Templeton and Grover Beach.
In December, Mechanics Bank closed its North Coast location — the only brick-and-mortar bank left in the Cayucos, according to a past Tribune report.
Existing bank accounts will automatically transfer to the Morro Bay branch, Greg Jones, the company’s director of communications, told the Tribune in a September interview.
Restaurants that closed in 2021
The 4 Cats Cafe and Gallery, San Luis Obispo
After about three years in business, the coffeehouse and art gallery closed in February.
The space at 1531 Monterey St. was home to Steynberg Gallery for more than a decade before being sold to new owners in December 2017, who later opened The 4 Cats Cafe and Gallery.
Mandarin Gourmet, San Luis Obispo
After almost 30 years in business, beloved local restaurant owners Elaine and Eric Truong closed the doors to Mandarin Gourmet in San Luis Obispo on Dec. 31.
The Truongs told the Tribune they plan to retire, but may not be stepping away from the local food scene entirely and have considered opening a take-out only spot in the future.
In May, the popular sandwiches and soups chain restaurant, Panera Bread, closed its location 299 Madonna Road in San Luis Obispo after 10 years.
Rolled Ice Cream Co., San Luis Obispo
The ice cream shop shut its doors at 785 Marsh St. after three years of serving up Thai-style treats of fresh frozen ice cream rolled and served with toppings.
The business closed after its lease expired.
The steakhouse chain Tahoe Joe’s closed its location at the Promenade Shopping Center on Madonna Road in San Luis Obispo on Aug. 26.
The parent company for Tahoe Joe’s declared bankruptcy earlier in the year.
The frozen yogurt chain shuttered its location at 956 Higuera St., along with several other Yogurtland stores.
Yogurtland opened in 2015 with a wall of 16 flavors and a topping bar with 60 options, including fruit.
Retail stores that closed in 2021
Abercrombie & Fitch, San Luis Obispo
The casual clothing retailer permanently closed its store at the Court Street Plaza in downtown San Luis Obispo in January.
The store, located at 980 Higuera St., is among other Abercrombie & Fitch outlets that closed in California, including locations in Santa Rosa and Santa Barbara.
In June, the popular discount chain retailer closed one of its San Luis Obispo locations after 11 years.
The location at 2238 Broad St. in The Village at Broad shopping center in San Luis Obispo remains open.
The Dollar Tree has local stores in Morro Bay, Atascadero, Paso Robles, Arroyo Grande and Santa Maria. The chain also opened a new location in Los Osos in 2021.
The clothing store chain closed its location at 887 Higuera St. in January after operating in San Luis Obispo for nearly three decades.
Express first opened in the city in 1993.
GameStop shut its doors in January at 487 Madonna Road, Suite 4, in the SLO Promenade shopping center, but stores in Arroyo Grande and Paso Robles remained open.
The chain, which has stores nationwide, specializes in video games, collectibles and consoles such as the Sony PlayStation and Microsoft Xbox.
The Gold Concept Jewelry and Design, San Luis Obispo
The San Luis Obispo jewelry store announced plans in November to close at the end of 2021 after more than 50 years in business.
The jewelry business, operated by former San Luis Obispo City Councilman Aaron Gomez and his brother Devin, was started by the brothers’ father, Anthony Gomez, and his partner at the time, Brad Bilsten. After 40 years in business together, Blisten and Anthony Gomez parted ways as business partners, but still own another building together, Bilsten said to the Tribune in a past report.
Aaron Gomez said that the family will continue to own the commercial property where The Gold Concept is currently located, but that a new tenant will be moving in after the jewelry business closes at the end of the year.
The Madonna Plaza Shopping Center location of pet supply chain, Petco, closed in December.
There are two remaining Petco locations in the county, one in Paso Robles and another in Arroyo Grande.
Serengeti West Fine Jewelers, San Luis Obispo
The doors to Serengeti West Fine Jewelers at 951 Monterey St. in San Luis Obispo closed in July after 36 years.
Kathleen Dente and her late husband, Vincent Dente, opened the shop in 1993.
Before opening the brick-and-mortar shop in San Luis Obispo, Vincent Dente and his two brothers started Serengeti Company in 1978. The business got its name because the brothers would travel to East Africa, purchasing gemstones to be sold to jewelry companies.
Kathleen Dente told The Tribune at the time of the closure that she was looking forward to retiring from the retail business to travel with her boyfriend.
After 10 years in Paso Robles, Siegel’s Jewelry announced plans to close in November so the couple that owns the business could retire.
Ken Siegel, a third-generation jeweler from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and his wife, Kris Siegel, opened the Paso Robles location after visiting the Central Coast in February 2012, according to a past Tribune report.
As of Dec. 29, the doors to Siegel’s in Paso Robles are still open while they try to sell off what’s left of their product, according to the store’s Facebook.
After 36 years of serving the equestrian community in North County, Whitehorse Tack closed in November.
The owner of the popular horse supply store, Lisa Moore, told the Tribune she closed the tack shop because she was retiring.
The tack store started out in Templeton, where Moore lives, and moved to 2805 Black Oak Drive in Paso Robles in 2010.
Other SLO County businesses that closed in 2021
Another business that closed in 2021 was the Santa Maria Raceway in Nipomo.
The racetrack announced it was closing and canceling future events in August due to disputes with the neighboring homeowners association and confusion over San Luis Obispo County permits and licenses.
As of November, the business is no longer advertising new events and appears to have gone on the market.
This story was originally published December 31, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
