These SLO County restaurants, wineries and businesses closed in 2025
While lots of businesses opened all over SLO County in 2025, plenty still shut their doors.
The list of closures includes bakeries, restaurants, breweries — and quite a few surprises.
Take a look back at some of the local businesses that closed in the past year.
Kohl’s
The Kohl’s in San Luis Obispo closed at the start of the year as the chain planned to close more than two dozen “underperforming” stores across the country.
The company announced plans to close 27 of its more than 1,150 locations as it looks to streamline business amid a disappointing financial year.
Carquest
Auto parts stores closed throughout California this year, with Carquest locations in Arroyo Grande, Santa Maria, Atascadero and Templeton all closing after its supplier, Advance Auto Parts, suffered significant losses.
The supplier planned to close 820 stores, according to Atascadero Carquest Auto Parts manager Dwayne Semans.
Rite Aid
San Luis Obispo County was once home to 10 Rite Aids, stretching from Paso Robles to Arroyo Grande.
But in 2025, the pharmacy chain went bankrupt, with all of its local stores closing throughout the summer.
El Taco de Mexico
El Taco De Mexico in Grover Beach closed in January thanks in part to ongoing construction in the area that slowed traffic to the restaurant, owner Angelica Hernandes told The Tribune.
Speaking through her son as an interpreter, Hernandes said El Taco De Mexico, which opened at the corner of West Grand Avenue and North 8th Street in 2016, closed due to a significant decline in business during the roadwork.
Rib Line by the Beach
Meanwhile, another Grover Beach restaurant also closed in January for the near-same reasons.
Rib Line by the Beach, the sister location of the San Luis Obispo-based Rib Line barbecue restaurant, closed after roughly five years, owner Brian Appiano told The Tribune at the time.
Just a year removed from a significant renovation of the space, Appiano said Rib Line by the Beach closed for a number of reasons — including the strain of operating multiple restaurants and a changing restaurant landscape based on takeout — but most importantly, the impact of continued street, residential and business construction on West Grand Avenue.
Paso Terra
Paso Terra, a French Mediterranean restaurant in Paso Robles, closed in March after being open for 13 years.
The owner, Andre Averseng who also owns catering company Le Gourmet Spot, left the restaurant to pursue new opportunities after the pressures of taking care of the seafood restaurant for over a decade.
Cowboy Cookie
Cowboy Cookie closed in SLO in April after nearly five decades in business. The ice cream and cookie shop first opened in 1979 and opened up shops in SLO, Pismo Beach and Santa Maria over the years.
Morro Bay Butcher & Deli
Morro Bay Butcher & Deli first opened in the middle of the pandemic in December 2020, serving high-quality meats.
Five years later, they had to lock their doors for good in April due to USDA regulations and additional taxes. The owners moved to Scotland to discover the established “historical butcher shops” of the country.
Surf Rat Donuts
A beloved doughnut shop in Cayucos closed its doors back in April, after harsh winter months proved fatal for the fresh-baked doughnut business.
Its spot wasn’t kept empty for long — Mosey’s Burgers, a new smashburger spot, took over Surf Rat Donuts’ lease.
Bang the Drum
The popular Bang the Drum brewery in San Luis Obispo was forced to close in May after its building was condemned.
Though the business planned to have one last blowout before closing, it ultimately found itself locked out of the building before it could.
“We are being told we cannot operate, and we cannot have people here at all,” owner Noelle Dubois said in an Instagram video at the time. “This really sucks. We never got to have a last day with you guys.”
At the time, Dubois said she was considering future options for a new home for Bang the Drum, though that has not yet materialized.
Black Hand Cellars
Black Hand Cellars at 766 Main St. in Cambria closed its tasting room in June after 16 years of pouring wine, but its winery remains.
Owner Tom Banish focused on moving the operations to his property at Torie Ranch Vineyard in Paso Robles.
Proof & Gather
Proof & Gather in downtown SLO in June closed due to its lease expiring in its Network Mall spot. The bakery has another location in Paso Robles and its owner said she was never going to remain in the downtown spot for long.
“What people don’t know is the Tin City location was supposed to be the one and only bakery, but we had to build it out,” owner Kaitlin Ferland told The Tribune at the time. “We were in construction for four years, but my business kept growing and growing, and I can’t wait that long to get into a bakery space. So I started looking for short-term leases.”
Hope Chest
Hope Chest thrift store in San Luis Obispo closed in July after its parent company, Wilshire Health and Community Services went under this summer.
The thrift store’s employees were eventually hired by a new outfit, Lumina Alliance’s Lumina Thrift, while the building is slated to become yet another thrift store.
Antigua Brewing
After nearly four years in downtown SLO, Antigua Brewing suddenly closed its taproom doors in August. A sign posted in the window of the restaurant thanked customers “for the memories.”
While it was unclear why the business closed, its owners also placed their 10-acre SLO County estate Hacienda Antigua on the market for $4.9 million.
The Cotton Ball
A beloved sewing institution, The Cotton Ball closed its doors in Morro Bay in August after 56 years. But there was good news: The owners had plans to start selling their custom fabrics online after closing the brick-and-mortar.
Even more good news? The store was quickly replaced by a new quilt shop, The Quilted Otter, in October.
Avanti
The women’s clothing store announced it was going out of business in September, with its high-profile spot on the corner of Higuera and Chorro downtown now empty. Avanti was in its spot for over 30 years selling women’s clothing, accessories and shoes as a family-run business.
It’s owner Kristen Walker called the closure “heartbreaking.”
Brixton
A hat, clothing and accessory big brand shop closed its brick-and-mortar downtown abruptly in September, with no indication of why on its website or social media.
Babydudes
Babydudes, a burger and sandwich shop in Morro Bay, shut its doors in September.
The business first launched as a coffee shop in New York before the COVID-19 pandemic, closing not long after during the lockdown. The eatery then reopened as a burger and sandwich joint in Morro Bay in 2022, but eventually closed due to high costs.
Brooks Burgers
The burger joint, with its original location in Pismo Beach, closed its SLO location inside the SLO Public Market in September with not a lot of information as to why. The spot teased that something was cooking in the winter — ultimately revealing that Mediterranean restaurant Petra was moving in.
CJ’s BBQ Smokehouse
CJ’s BBQ Smokehouse took over the former Mo’s Smokehouse BBQ spot at the corner of Monterey and Osos streets less than a year before its doors shut in September. The business had no sign announcing any closure in its window or on social media.
Courtside Cellars
E&J Gallo closed yet another of its San Luis Obispo County properties in September as it continued to withdraw from the Central Coast.
Gallo permanently closed Courtside Cellars in San Miguel and laid off 47 workers on Sept. 8, citing a decreased demand for coastal production.
“Due to reduced demand for Coastal production and available capacity elsewhere in the company, fewer wineries are needed on the Coast,” Gallo director of corporate communications and public relations Krista Fontana told The Tribune.
Gaia’s Gallery
After three years downtown, the crystal and geode store closed in the end of September due to “high rent,” according to its owner.
“From the very beginning, Gaia’s Gallery has been more than just a crystal and jewelry store, it has been a sacred space for healing, learning, and community,” Christine Branco wrote in the Instagram post about the closing. “You have all been the soul of this space, and I am endlessly thankful for your support, your stories, and your trust.”
Michael’s Optical
Michael’s Optical in downtown SLO closed in September after 44 years of the family-owned and operated optician’s office serving the community.
The reason why? Owner Michael Nutt listed a variety: Managed Care insurance, online ordering and box stores not helping the family business.
Spoon Trade
Spoon Trade in Grover Beach closed in October after nearly a decade in business, with its chef calling the closing “bittersweet.”
While the restaurant had plans to move right across the street due to developers’ plans to transform its space in Beach Front Plaza into a four-story mixed use building, loss in staff and customers made the business fully close.
Starbucks
Starbucks on South Higuera Street in San Luis Obispo closed in September amid a nationwide transformation led by the company’s new CEO.
“You all brought our store to life, enriched our Starbucks family and our hearts,” a handwritten sign outside the closing coffeehouse read ahead of the closure.
Burger Village
After six years in business, Burger Village abruptly closed its doors in November. The burger joint, at 698 Higuera St. in San Luis Obispo, had a “for lease” sign posted in its window but its furniture and decor remained.
A Burger Village media representative said the restaurant “struggled to recover following the initial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic” and noted the downtown area “continues to experience challenges with increased empty storefronts.”
SLO Delicious
The beloved bakery closed its doors in November after being in its corner shop in downtown SLO for four years.
Its owners opened up the popular bakery in 2021 as a “huge leap of faith” and brought on the community they wanted to foster, according to their Instagram.
Tropics Aquarium Professionals
After more than 20 years in business, Tropics Aquarium Professionals shut its doors at 12330 Los Osos Valley Road in San Luis Obispo in December.
Its owner declined to provide details on why the store closed, but sold discounted merchandise and animals.
Ebony SLO
The most recent of closures has not happened yet — Ebony SLO on Higuera St. in downtown SLO’s last day is Dec. 31, after the Ethiopian restaurant’s lease is not being renewed. Instead, SLO Museum of Art is expanding into their space in the Network Mall.
The restaurant was still searching for a spot to move in to.