New Nashville-style chicken restaurant and an ice cream shop are coming to SLO
A Nashville-style chicken restaurant and an ice cream shop are the latest businesses to join San Luis Obispo Public Market at Bonetti Ranch.
The new commercial complex, located at the corner of Tank Farm Road and South Higuera Street in San Luis Obispo, recently announced that Jay Bird’s Nashville Hot Chicken eatery and The Perfect Scoop ice cream shop are its newest incoming tenants.
The Jay Bird’s menu features a variety of fried chicken dishes, including chicken tenders, a chicken-and-waffle combo and the Mac Daddy, a sandwich featuring a chicken breast topped with mac ‘n’ cheese.
Diners at Jay Bird’s start by selecting an entree, then pick their preferred level of spiciness, according to a SLO Public Market news release.
“Jay Bird’s offers five levels of spice ranging from Plain Jay to Fire, which can only be described as reaper hot,” the release said. “Finally, the guests complete their meal with a choice of side and house-made sauce.”
New ice cream shop headed to SLO Public Market
Also coming to SLO Public Market is The Perfect Scoop, which is owned and operated by Central Coast Creamery in Paso Robles.
“Reggie and Kellie Jones decided to embark on this new adventure and create an ice cream shop fit for any foodie,” a news release said. “They plan to marry the two businesses to bring the ice cream all the foodies have been waiting for: cheese-infused ice cream.”
In addition to traditional cow’s milk ice cream in classic flavors such as chocolate and vanilla, The Perfect Scoop will serve ice cream made with water buffalo milk, which has a higher protein, calcium and mineral content than cow’s milk, the release said.
“You know when you eat Honey Nut Cheerios and the milk has an oaty, thick flavor to it?” Jones said in the release. “Water buffalo milk tastes like that — oaty and velvety. It’s perfect for ice cream.”
This will be The Perfect Scoop’s first storefront, the release stated.
It’s unknown at this point when the ice cream shop or Jay Bird’s Nashville Hot Chicken will open.
Opening timeline pushed back for businesses
So far, only Orangetheory Fitness has opened at SLO Public Market, which launched in June.
Taylor Judkins, the property owner, said he had expected many of the businesses to open in July or August, but market officials say that timeline has been pushed back.
SLO Public Market project coordinator Taylor Powell said that the complex is going through building inspections now for more tenant openings forthcoming.
“A lot of the Market Hall is close to finished,” Powell said. “It is hard because they all share a common area and some are closer to finished than others. COVID has definitely not helped with the remaining construction work, especially on such a big project.”
Incoming tenants include shops offering coffee, cheese, ice cream, chocolates and craft spirits, according to Judkins, who owns the real estate and development company G3 Concepts.
A Thai noodle bar, a pizzeria and a restaurant serving classic American fare are also in store.
SLO Public Market was initially slated to open in 2019, but the project suffered construction delays, Judkins previously said. Then, in spring 2020, the coronavirus pandemic pushed back the timeline further.
This story was originally published September 29, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
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