Another restaurant in downtown SLO shuts its doors — this one after 6 years
Mint+Craft, a popular downtown San Luis Obispo cafe and mercantile, closed its doors abruptly last week, according to a post on the business’ social media.
“It is with a heavy heart that after years of hard work here at the cafe, we have come to the difficult decision to close our doors,” owner Joshua Ashby wrote in a post on the business’ Facebook page Friday.
“We enjoyed meeting and brunching with every single one of you — watching your kids grow a bit taller, and their pallets getting a bit more adventurous over the years,” the post continued. “I have greatly enjoyed being a part of this community and will hold forever the kindness you have shown me.”
Mint+Craft opened at 848 Monterey St. in 2017, founded by Luna Red owners Robin and Shanney Covey. Ashby took over the business in 2020.
The now-shuttered restaurant was known for its biscuits, breakfasts and espresso bar. It also sold house-made pickled vegetables, spices and locally crafted cups and bowls.
Customers reacted online to the sudden closure with sadness.
“I am so sad to read this,” one customer wrote on the cafe’s Instagram page. “Your creamy polenta with poached eggs will live in my heart forever.”
On Saturday, the cafe hosted a merchandise liquidation sale with items and decor from the shop.
The reason for the downtown cafe’s abrupt closure was not immediately known. Ashby did not respond to a request for comment as of Wednesday morning.
It is the latest in a slew of closures in the downtown core in recent weeks: At the start of October, Splash Cafe ownership announced the San Luis Obispo location would shutter by the end of the month, followed by Big Sky Cafe suddenly closing its doors Oct. 8.
This story was originally published October 18, 2023 at 2:05 PM.
