McLintocks auction drew a crowd but no one with $2.4 million. Here’s what to know

The iconic F. McLintocks Saloon and Dining House building in Shell Beach went to foreclosure auction Tuesday in San Luis Obispo, and more than three dozen people showed up to watch.

However, no one showed up with cash or a check for $2.4 million, and no one placed a bid.

FULL STORY: Dozens showed up to watch F. McLintocks auction — but nobody bid. Now what?

Here are key takeaways:

• Auctioneer Mike Bixler made three attempts to get a bid above the $2,430,525.26 opening price for the ocean-view Shell Beach property. No one stepped up, and the property reverted to the bank.

• Bixler said he counted 43 people at the auction, held in a breezeway next to the Katcho Achadjian County Government Center. He said he typically performs commercial property auctions in front of zero people.

• The cash-only requirement at that price range was a barrier, Bixler said. “It’s gonna have to come from corporations, typically, rather than individuals that are interested.”

• The bank could restart the foreclosure process with a lower asking price, according to Bixler. The 14,000-square-foot building on roughly 2 acres at 750 Mattie Road was also still listed for sale at $5 million through Pacifica Commercial Realty as of Tuesday.

• F. McLintocks opened in the 100-year-old farmhouse building along Highway 101 in the 1970s under founders Bruce Breault and Tunny Ortali. The chain faced hard times in recent years, including a slew of restaurant closures and the unexpected death of second-generation owner Toney Breault in January.

This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence and using our own originally reported, written and published content. Any content produced using AI tools is reviewed by reporters and editors before publication in compliance with McClatchy Media’s AI policy.

This story was originally published March 28, 2026 at 10:00 AM.