SLO County sisters’ new shop blends beauty salon, photography studio and clothing store
Two sisters have launched an eclectic new shop in Cambria.
Grace & Raven Co., a quirky blend of salon, boutique and studio, not only reflects the sisters’ diverse careers and interests — cosmetology, photography and shopping — but it also cements their family ties to the area.
Jessica Avila of Atascadero and Rachel Meredith of San Miguel said that their new store reflects the support and love the girls got from their grandparents, late Cambria ranchers Louis and Betty Fiscalini.
Louis Fiscalini’s grandfather, Joseph Fiscalini, moved to the area in 1873. Louis Fiscalini was active in various agricultural organizations, including the local, state and national Cattleman’s Associations, and was the 1996 San Luis Obispo County Cattleman of the Year.
Betty Fiscalini, a registered nurse, earned many honors, from being Cuesta College’s Woman of Distinction in 2004 for her community and public service volunteerism to being selected as Pinedorado Parade marshal in 2006.
She co-founded the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County and the county Crime Stoppers program. She led a campaign to upgrade the county’s Juvenile Hall facilities and programs and helped to save, move and restore the Old Santa Rosa Chapel.
Louis Fiscalini died in 2010, while Betty Fiscalini died in 2013.
The Fiscalinis served as prime motivators and cheerleaders for their granddaughters, both Templeton High School graduates.
Avila is 39, while her sister is 37.
Louis and Betty Fiscalini “are really the inspiration behind us opening a shop and wanting to remain in Cambria,” Meredith said. “It is because of their years of continued support that we are at the spot in life that we are … I feel truly blessed to have had them in my life. If it hadn’t been for them, I would’ve never made it through beauty school.”
“Needless to say, we spent countless hours on the ranch and have plenty of wonderful memories of the place” and their grandparents, she added.
Cambria shop combines beauty salon, photography
Grace & Raven Co. is located in the former location of Montello Olive Oil at 784 Main St., Suite E.
At one end of the small shop, there’s a beauty salon for Meredith’s cosmetology clients. (Raven Tanning Co. was her spray tan and accessory business.). The rest of the suite is devoted to the boutique and photo studio.
The store, which had a soft opening in September, is packed with photos by Avila, whose photography business is Country Grace. There’s also a wide range of items for sale that were curated and collected by both sisters.
The selection varies, but in early November, the store’s stock included clothing, handcrafted jewelry, hair products, mirrored compacts and other beauty accessories. Also for sale are hats, purses, wallets, sunglasses, sandals and old-fashioned candies, as well as tumblers, glasses and mugs.
“She has her baby for locals, the salon,” Avila said of her sister, “and I have something there’s that’s mine, the photography. The boutique and gift shop is both of us together.”
SLO County sisters pursue passions
Avila left her nearly quarter-century career as a medical assistant so she’d have time to follow her passion and take her photos to professional quality.
“I used to do photography just for fun,” Avila said. “Then my sister approached me, suggesting I do portraits.”
The photographer said she found her creative and career groove, buying “better lenses for landscape portraits, and getting a few backdrops,” such as Christmas, a wood fence and white bricks.
“I’m still expanding, branching out into doing head shots for businesses,” she said.
When Louis Fiscalini got sick, Meredith “moved over to the coast to help out,” which is why her hairdressing career began there.
Meredith’s years as a local cosmetologist and owner of a mobile spray-tanning business established her rep for quality hair styling, coloring, highlights, cuts, waxing, makeup and manicure and pedicure services.
She worked for two years at Pacific Hair Salon for Ingrid and Andrew Turrey in Cambria, and then nine years at Diva Day Spa in San Simeon.
“When I interviewed with Ingrid and Andrew, they told me that, as a kid, I had told him that I was going to cut hair one day!” Meredith recalled.
Donations of unwrapped toys delivered to Grace & Raven Co. during December for the local Toys for Tots campaign earn the givers a 10% discount.
For details, call 805-712-7963 or visit the shop’s Facebook page at facebook.com/graceravenco.
