New SLO County building will blend a restaurant, liquor store and apartments. Here’s a look
The owner of multiple San Luis Obispo County liquor stores and restaurants is expanding into the North County with a new venture that combines two businesses under one roof.
Morro Liquor Inc. and A-Town Deli and Grill is under construction at 8120 Morro Road in Atascadero. The builder, Don McAdam of Southpaw Design and Construction Inc., anticipates the project will be finished in spring 2024.
The 4000 square foot mixed-use building will be home to Morro Liquor and A-Town Deli and Grill as separate businesses on the ground floor with two apartments on the upper floor, owner George Ghazaly said.
The boutique liquor store will sell high-end beer, wine and liquor from local and global vendors, while A-Town Deli and Grill will be a Mexican-American restaurant with grab-and-go and made-to-order options for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
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Ghazaly owns a few businesses on the North Coast and in the South County — the Cambria Cafe and Bob & Jan’s Bottle Shop in Cambria, and Stop N’ Buy and Monarch Liquor in Nipomo — but decided to open his new venture in Atascadero along Highway 41 because he saw a gap in what was available for people driving to and from the coast.
“There’s nothing for travelers for back and forth to stop and get their drinks,” he said.
He said the city of Atascadero was very enthusiastic and supportive of his efforts to build a new liquor store and restaurant on the Highway 41 corridor.
A-Town Deli and Grill to bring ‘high-end food’ without the price tag
Ghazaly hired Brian Champlin as head chef for the restaurant part of the business. Champlin has cooked at upscale restaurants throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura counties and moved to San Luis Obispo County to be closer to family.
“I want to bring high-end food with good flavor and good pricing,” Champlin said.
The menu is still in development, Champlin said, but he expects the breakfast offerings will include American mainstays such as bacon, eggs and hash browns as well as breakfast burritos and chilaquiles.
For lunch and dinner, Champlin plans to serve some of his signature dishes.
“I’m going to do a porchetta sandwich,” which he described as baked and sliced pork belly tenderloin with herbs, served with garlic broccolini on a french roll.
The menu will feature “your standard reubens” and a tri-trip that he marinades in tequila and orange juice. There will be a few different burger options, from classic burger to spicy, as well as burritos. The restaurant will not serve alcohol.
Champlin said he pivoted from cooking at fine dining restaurants to a casual spot like A-Town Deli and Grill because he felt consumers are moving away from high-cost dining and toward more accessible options.
“I want to be able to make great food without paying the golden ticket price,” Champlin said. “Working with George ... (we) both see the vision and I think it’s a great concept and I’m on board for it.”
