Downtown SLO clothing store is closing after more than 30 years
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Avanti, a downtown San Luis Obispo boutique, plans to close by late 2025.
- The shop launched a store-wide 30% discount to clear inventory and furniture.
- Community members shared tributes online, marking Avanti’s 33-year run.
A women’s clothing store that has been a cornerstone of downtown San Luis Obispo is closing its doors after more than 30 years.
Avanti, located at 796 Higuera St., is going out of business and is in the midst of a clearance sale, it announced in an Instagram post on Thursday night.
“Please know, we have such full and thankful hearts for the over 30 years of support, memories conversations and friendships we have built as we’ve navigated being a small family run boutique,” the post read.
The store, which has occupied a high-profile location at the corner of Higuera and Chorro streets since 1992, sells clothing, shoes and accessories and is currently running a 30%-off store-wide sale, as it looks to sell off all its remaining inventory. One worker told The Tribune that the store will close once everything has sold, in either October or November.
On Friday, owner Kristen Walker declined to comment on the closure but called it “heartbreaking.”
For 33 years, Avanti has been a go-to spot for higher-end apparel, from proms and nights out, to weddings and vacations.
After the announcement of the upcoming closure, loyal customers and local businesses shared their sadness and best wishes.
“This is truly the end of an era,” Alyssa Rae wrote under the Instagram post. “Avanti was such a huge part of my transition when I moved here a decade ago. I made some beautiful friendships because of Avanti as well. Bittersweet for sure.”
For more information about the store or its going-out-of-business sale, visit its website at avantislo.com or call 805-544-6441.