Closed in SLO County: Here are 10 local restaurants and stores we lost in 2023

Sarah Linn
·6 min read

San Luis Obispo County businesses experienced another tough year in 2023, dealing with inflation, staffing challenges and competition from online retailers.

Many local restaurants and retailers also found themselves still reeling from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Those issues and others forced several popular spots to shut their doors for good.

Here are some of the eateries, stores and other businesses that permanently closed in SLO County in 2023.

Bed Bath & Beyond

The last Bed Bath & Beyond store in San Luis Obispo County closed its doors in early 2023 after the national retail chain known for home goods, bedding and kitchenware filed for bankruptcy and shuttered hundreds of stores across the country.

Stores affected by the closures included Bed Bath & Beyond at 317 Madonna Road in San Luis Obispo. The space in the SLO Promenade shopping center remained vacant as of Tuesday.

The retailer closed its Paso Robles location in 2020.

After 29 years in business in downtown San Luis Obispo, Big Sky Cafe on Broad Street has closed as of Oct. 8, 2023.
After 29 years in business in downtown San Luis Obispo, Big Sky Cafe on Broad Street has closed as of Oct. 8, 2023.

Big Sky Cafe

Downtown San Luis Obispo lost a culinary institution in October when Big Sky Cafe closed its doors at 1121 Broad St. after nearly three decades.

Known for farm-to-table dishes made with fresh ingredients, the restaurant was founded by Charles Myers in 1994. Big Sky Cafe chef Greg Holt and his wife, Mirjam, bought the eatery from Myers in 2015.

News of Big Sky Cafe’s closure came just months after the departure of two neighboring businesses. Highwater SLO cocktail bar closed in May, and Monika’s Macarons sweet shop moved to a new location on Chorro Street in June.

Chili’s Grill & Bar

SLO County said “so long” to baby back ribs and sizzling fajitas in June when Chili’s Grill & Bar closed in Paso Robles.

Part of a national restaurant chain headquartered in Texas, Chili’s opened in the Target shopping center at 2001 Theater Drive in 2007.

It was the sole remaining Chili’s in the county following the closure of an Arroyo Grande Chili’s restaurant in 2019. As of Wednesday, the next closest Chili’s location was in Goleta.

Coco’s Bakery Restaurant owner Larry Puder, left, stands with his staff on the second-to-last day of the Pismo Beach restaurant’s operation, Feb. 14, 2023.
Coco’s Bakery Restaurant owner Larry Puder, left, stands with his staff on the second-to-last day of the Pismo Beach restaurant’s operation, Feb. 14, 2023.

Coco’s Bakery Restaurant

Rising food costs and dwindling company support led to the closure of Coco’s Bakery Restaurant at 411 5 Cities Drive in Pismo Beach in February after more than two decades, franchise owner Larry Puder said.

He bought the diner, known for its pies and breakfast offerings such as pancakes and cinnamon rolls, after moving to the Central Coast in 1997.

At its peak, Coco’s had about 300 locations across the southwestern United States — including restaurants in Atascadero and Santa Maria that closed in 2015. Now it’s down to 70.

Crushed Grape closed in April 2023, after almost four decades of business in San Luis Obispo.
Crushed Grape closed in April 2023, after almost four decades of business in San Luis Obispo.

Crushed Grape

After nearly 40 years in business, popular San Luis Obispo gift basket shop Crushed Grape shut its doors at 491 Madonna Road in May.

Owner Gretchen Gonyer started Crushed Grape in 1987, at one point operating a deli in addition to a gift shop.

Gonyer told The Tribune that she decided to close Crushed Grape to focus on other pursuits such as writing a cookbook and river rafting. She sold the basket-making portion of her business to the owners of Karson Butler Events at the Ah Louis Store in downtown San Luis Obispo.

A sign posted on the door of the Arroyo Grande parlor in February 2023 said Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab was “closed indefinitely.”
A sign posted on the door of the Arroyo Grande parlor in February 2023 said Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab was “closed indefinitely.”

Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab

Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab abruptly closed its scoop shops in Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria in February after facing eviction at one parlor location.

Despite attempts at expansion, the beloved ice cream chain had “been fighting an uphill battle for growth and survival for many years,” Doc Burnstein’s management said in a February shareholder notice.

Greg Steinberger, who co-founded Doc Burnstein’s in 2003 but later parted ways with the company, told The Tribune in 2022 that Doc Burnstein’s had been mismanaged to the point of bankruptcy.

Beloved restaurant Nardonne’s La Famiglia Pizzeria closed its Atascadero location in 2023 after more than 40 years.
Beloved restaurant Nardonne’s La Famiglia Pizzeria closed its Atascadero location in 2023 after more than 40 years.

Nardonne’s La Famiglia Pizzeria

Nardonne’s La Famiglia Pizzeria closed its Atascadero location in April after more than 40 years in business.

At the time, owner John Dougherty said he decided to shutter the popular restaurant at 8501 El Camino Real to allow his mother to semi-retire and free him up to focus on his new business, JD Estates Sales.

Customers can still enjoy Nardonne’s signature Sicilian-style pizzas at its sister restaurant at 715 Santa Maria Ave., Suite A, in Baywood Park.

Santa Maria Brewing Co. closed locations in Paso Robles, pictured here, as well as Atascadero and Santa Maria.
Santa Maria Brewing Co. closed locations in Paso Robles, pictured here, as well as Atascadero and Santa Maria.

Santa Maria Brewing Co.

Two years after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Santa Maria Brewing Co. closed its final location in February.

Dan Hilker and Gary Ford launched Santa Maria Brewing Co. in 1994, and Byron and Karen Moles purchased the craft brewery in 2013.

Five years later, Santa Maria Brewing acquired Tap It Brewery during a period of expansion that saw it add taprooms in Paso Robles, Atascadero and Santa Maria.

All had shuttered by the time Santa Maria Brewing closed its doors at 7935 San Luis Ave. in Atascadero.

Splash Cafe closed on Monterey Street in San Luis Obispo in October 2023.
Splash Cafe closed on Monterey Street in San Luis Obispo in October 2023.

Splash Cafe

Splash Cafe, one of San Luis Obispo’s most popular spots for clam chowder and baked goods, closed its doors at 1491 Monterey St. in October after two decades.

CEO Joanne Currie told The Tribune at the time that she planned to sell the building and move the company’s bakery to a commercial kitchen space.

The original Splash Cafe opened in Pismo Beach in 1989, followed by the Monterey Street location in 2003. A third spot in SLO’s Downtown Centre shopping plaza closed in 2017.

Splash Cafe remains open at 97 Pomeroy Ave. in Pismo Beach.

This 13th Street building in Paso Robles was home to Vic’s Cafe until December 2023.
This 13th Street building in Paso Robles was home to Vic’s Cafe until December 2023.

Vic’s Cafe

After more than 80 years, Vic’s Cafe closed its doors at 841 13th St. in downtown Paso Robles in December.

Known for its classic comfort food offerings, the restaurant was bought by Vic Buckley in 1942, before being purchased by Larry and Jan Eastwood in 1972 and sold to Brett and Dee Aud in 2018, according to its website.

However, Vic’s Cafe was “hit hard” by the COVID-19 pandemic and struggles with downtown parking, the restaurant said in a Facebook post. “We are not comfortable renewing our lease.”

Taco Temple in San Luis Obispo closed in December 2023.
Taco Temple in San Luis Obispo closed in December 2023.

Other SLO County businesses that closed in 2023

Other businesses that shut their doors in SLO County in 2023 ranged from restaurants, delis and sweet shops to gyms and wineries.

Here are a few of the local spots that permanently shuttered over the course of the year:

Bed Bath & Beyond in San Luis Obispo closed in 2023.
Bed Bath & Beyond in San Luis Obispo closed in 2023.