SLO County businesses join nationwide anti-ICE strike. Who will be closed today?
Several San Luis Obispo County businesses are shutting their doors on Friday, joining a nationwide strike to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement funding and actions after federal agents fatally shot two Minneapolis residents.
“The people of the Twin Cities have shown the way for the whole country — to stop ICE’s reign of terror, we need to SHUT IT DOWN,” organizers said on the National Shutdown website. “On Friday, January 30, join a nationwide day of no school, no work and no shopping.”
The decentralized movement, first organized by Somali and Black student organizations in Minneapolis, has since been endorsed by hundreds of organizations around the country, ranging from the Minnesota Immigrant Movement to the LA Tenants Union and the IFCO Pastors for Peace.
Activists said the upcoming 24-hour strike was prompted following ICE agents’ “brutal killings” of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis, Silverio Villegas González in suburban Chicago and Keith Porter Jr. in Los Angeles.
Shutdown organizers called on people across the country to “all stand together” and fuel shock and outrage into action, by refusing to participate in commerce or attend work or school.
SLO County businesses join nationwide strike
Several SLO County businesses are choosing to shut their shops in solidarity with the movement.
Blackwater, a gift and vintage shop in downtown San Luis Obispo, said it would be closed Friday to participate in the general strike.
“We didn’t make this decision lightly,” the shop said in an Instagram post. “We need to be open to pay our bills but as much as we hate closing our doors, we hate what’s happening to our country even more.”
The shop said it would refuse to “act like everything is normal” by continuing business as usual, but urged community members to continue shopping at small businesses before and after the shutdown.
Handcrafted SLO jewelry shop, Len Collective, said its business would be shuttered all day Friday in an effort to “show solidarity with our communities near and far who are being terrorized at the hands of those in power,” according to a social media post.
Traffic Records, a vinyl store in Atascadero, said it will also be closed Friday despite the financial loss that could “make or break our entire month.”
“This is too important for us to put our store before what’s right,” the store said in a social media post. “Tyranny has taken over and the people must flex whatever power we have to combat it.”
Shindig Cider plans to close its San Luis Obispo tasting room on Friday as well.
“We believe deeply in respect, safety, and compassion for all people, and it feels important to pause normal operations in solidarity with our community, citizens and immigrants alike,” the hard cider company said on Instagram.
Some local businesses staying open to donate profits, offer free services
Other local businesses, including the SLO Food Coop and the Caffeinated Cat Cafe, said they would stay open Friday but shared messages of support for the movement on social media.
“We believe in dignity, safety, and humanity for all, and stand in solidarity with the national strike,” the SLO Food Coop said on Instagram.
The Palm Theatre in San Luis Obispo planned to remain open, but would not charge admission for its 7 p.m. screenings, it said in an Instagram post. The theater would also offer complimentary popcorn and soda to all guests, it said.
“We believe deeply in the transformative power of film,” the post said. “As a small, nonprofit art-house theater, it’s important to us to remain a community-centered space that supports our staff and invites people to gather, reflect and connect. Please continue to support your local small businesses. Direct support of our theater allows us to continue to thrive and showcase independent and often marginalized storytelling.”
Kismet Fitness, Morro Bay Yarn Shop and Field Day Coffee are also open but are choosing to donate some profits to 805 UndocuFund, an organization offering direct financial relief to undocumented families on the Central Coast.
What SLO County businesses are closed for shutdown?
Here’s a list of some San Luis Obispo County businesses that plan to be closed on Friday for the nationwide shutdown:
- Ah Louis Store, 800 Palm St., San Luis Obispo
- Apropos, 1021 Morro St., San Luis Obispo
- Blackwater, 705 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo
- Boo Boo Records, 978 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo
- Branch Street Antiques, 126 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande
- The Bunker SLO, 810 Orcutt Road, San Luis Obispo
- Calico Trading Co., 883 Marsh St., San Luis Obispo
- Calico Kids Resale,445 Madonna Road, Suite A, San Luis Obispo
- Casa Ramos Art Gallery, 1034 Los Osos Valley Road, Los Osos
- Corazon Cafe SLO, 847 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo
- Cruise Control Contemporary, 1075 Main St., Cambria
- durham cider + wine co., 715 Santa Maria Ave., Los Osos
- Garden Street Goldsmiths, 1114 Garden St., San Luis Obispo
- HumanKind Fair Trade, 974 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo
- Jan’s Place, 1817 Osos St., San Luis Obispo
- Junk Girls, 870 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo
- La Casita, 1572 W. Grand Ave., Grover Beach
- Len Collective, 760 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo
- Linnea’s Cafe, 1110 Garden St., San Luis Obispo
- Locals Taproom, 90 San Miguel St., Avila Beach
- Luna Red Restaurant, closed for dinner, 1023 Chorro St., San Luis Obispo
- Making SLO, 751 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo
- Mezzo Italiano, 1622 Main St., Cambria
- Neighbors General Store, 119 E Branch St., Arroyo Grande
- Novo, 726 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo
- Odd Fellows Antiques Emporium, 1527 W. Grand Ave., Grover Beach
- Open Air Flowers, 1003 Osos St., San Luis Obispo
- Phoenix Books, 986 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo
- Volumes of Pleasure Bookshoppe, 1016 Los Osos Valley Road, Los Osos
- Salon62, 1112 Garden St., San Luis Obispo (closed for retail, walk-in appointments)
- Shindig Cider, 3055 Duncan Road, Suite D, San Luis Obispo
- Shrine Brewing, 3197 Duncan Road, Unit B, San Luis Obispo
- SLO Cider Co., 3419 Roberto Court, Suite C, San Luis Obispo
- Tigerlily Salon, 659 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo (closed for retail, walk-in appointments)
- Traffic Records, 5850 Traffic Way, Atascadero
- Wayward Baking, 1001 Santa Ynez Ave., Los Osos
Know of other businesses expected to be closed Friday for the strike? Let reporter Hannah Poukish know at hpoukish@thetribunenews.com. We’ll keep updating this list as we learn of more.
This story was originally published January 29, 2026 at 11:16 AM.
