Lululemon store coming to SLO will be 'pop-up' location

The new Lululemon Athletica store, set to open in downtown San Luis Obispo late this month, may only be at the location for five months, Lululemon market community connector Renee Ascione told The Tribune on Thursday.

The yoga and dancewear retailer’s store at 770 Higuera St. will be a “pop-up” location, which Ascione describes as a “smaller, cozier version of our retail store” that stays in a location for only a few months.

Lululemon has used pop-up shops in the past around the holiday season or in areas that are farther away from a permanent Lululemon store to give customers more access to its products.

Ascione said the San Luis Obispo pop-up will be downtown until the end of September, though property owner Rob Rossi said he hopes the company will choose to stay longer, until year-end, and possibly open a permanent store.

“I’m hoping they’ll like this marketplace,” Rossi said. “I think they are coming in with the intent and the hope that they are going to stay. Our hope is it works out.”

If Lululemon chooses to leave, Rossi said he will look into possibly renting the space to a restaurant or another retail outfit that complements the neighboring businesses.

This story was originally published April 3, 2014 at 4:49 PM with the headline "Lululemon store coming to SLO will be 'pop-up' location."