New arts and crafts store opens in SLO County. Take a look inside
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- Estero Bay Art + Craft opened August 20 as Morro Bay's first art supply store.
- The shop offers limited-quantity supplies, crafts for kids, and adult classes.
- Owner Hilary Soldati built the store to foster creativity and community connection.
A new arts and craft story has opened its wooden doors in Morro Bay.
Estero Bay Art + Craft opened Aug. 20 at 523 Harbor St. in Morro Bay, selling art supplies, materials and a variety of classes.
The arts and crafts shop was dreamed up by owner Hilary Soldati, who grew up in New England and whose mother was a potter and would make lampshades, oil paintings and quilted mosaics.
“I grew up in a home and in a culture, in a community where artisanship and craftsmanship is just part of the everyday,” Soldati told The Tribune. “In terms of this moment, I’ve never worked in an art store. This is not something that’s been building up for decades and now here it is.”
Soldati credits Estero Bay Art + Craft to life changes that helped her to build up the courage and take a “big leap of faith” and open the store.
“Those life changes that all came together at once allowed that courage to bubble up of, well, life is short,” she said. “Let’s follow this feeling and see what happens.”
Soldati’s philosophy for opening the arts and crafts shop also translates to its offerings.
In the small space next to art gallery Lor Coaching Studio, watercolors, paints, markers, kits to make baskets, felting art and books decorate the shop, all in small quantities.
“It’s a small space, so I don’t have room to have everything for any one person to come in, but I’m hoping to have a little something for everyone that comes in,” Soldati said. “I like creating this opportunity for folks to explore, either try something new.”
With a dedicated space for art sets for kids and wooden toys, Estero Bay Art + Craft also offers workshops and classes for both kids and adults.
Series include Visual Expression with 2D Arts for second to sixth graders, a teen studio lab and a painting series for adults. A beginner stained glass class is also scheduled for Oct. 5.
Future classes include calligraphy, modeling, paper mache puppet making, even mask making, Soldati said.
Classes will take place in the back of the craft shop, where Soldati is currently building a large table for participants to sit around.
Events will also take place in the colorful garden behind the shop, where Soldati hopes to host book clubs, large community gatherings and birthday parties.
For Soldati, human connection is everything inside her store. A black wooden stool sits opposite the register, where she encourages guests to sit down, connect and chat.
“I have a stool there for a reason,” she said. “The first thing I hope people feel is that this is a warm, connected space. I’m here to listen and to understand what excites them, what engages them, what maybe they’re a little afraid of, and could use a little nudge or a little encouragement.”
For more information
Estero Bay Art + Craft at 523 Harbor St. is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information about the arts and crafts store, visit its website at esterobayartandcraft.com or call 805-771-5007.
This story was originally published September 4, 2025 at 5:00 AM.