SLO County’s mall memories: DJs spinning tunes, a shopping spree and Hot Dog on a Stick

Kaytlyn Leslie
·7 min read

Editor’s note: This is one in a series of nostalgia stories we’re calling “Remember That?”

We asked and you delivered.

For a brief time in the 1980s and ‘90s, the Central Coast Plaza was the place to be for shopping, hanging out with friends and family and checking out community events.

From holiday shindigs like haunted houses at Halloween and gift-wrapping at Christmas, to shopping at the mall’s anchor, Gottschalks, or working at any of the center’s smaller stores, San Luis Obispo County residents shared their favorite memories of the mall during its heyday.

One interesting thing: No one sent in any photos, which actually makes sense. Why would you carry a camera with you to go shopping?

The mall may have been bulldozed in 2000 and replaced with the outdoor SLO Promenade, but it’s clear the fond recollections live on.

So sit back, maybe grab a Hot Dog on a Stick, and enjoy these stories of the Central Coast Plaza.

Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.

The Central Coast Plaza, the first and only enclosed mall in San Luis Obispo, was taken over by a receiver after then-owner Bill Bird misses loan payments. Here is how the mall looked on Nov. 11, 1993.
The Central Coast Plaza, the first and only enclosed mall in San Luis Obispo, was taken over by a receiver after then-owner Bill Bird misses loan payments. Here is how the mall looked on Nov. 11, 1993.

‘I practically lived there’

“I was the owner of Academy Travel Consultants and Academy Travel School — my parking space was next to the electric towers. Halloween in the mall: We taught travel school in the evening, so kids could not come into the store, so I had my manager sit outside with candy, and he had on these huge big feet that scared most of the little kids away! I practically lived there.” — Dianne Tuttle, Arroyo Grande

‘Great memories’

“My mother worked at Gottschalks, and Hot Dog on a Stick was the bomb at the food court. I bought my denim and animal print jacket at Jay Jacobs. Had to save up. Great memories.” — Rachel Lyles

A Christmas shopping spree

“I worked in the toy store, Dee’s Toys, and later switched to the adjoining baby store, The Stork and I. Fun while it lasted, which wasn’t long. I also entered a holiday giveaway. Turned in my entry on the last day, just before the mall closed. Got a call the next morning, I won the grand prize of an $1,000 shopping spree!! Christmas was great that year.” — Connie Limon Young, San Luis Obispo

A celebrity sighting

“My grandparents owned the candy store by the jewelry store. I remember one day meeting Dawn Wells (Mary Ann from “Gilligan’s Island”). I remember working at Just a Buck before that!” — Phil Gatliff

Melanie Meinerts rings up the purchases of Lauren Niezen and son Jake, 5 months, at the relocated Gottschalks Kids in the Central Coast Plaza on June 13, 1995.
Melanie Meinerts rings up the purchases of Lauren Niezen and son Jake, 5 months, at the relocated Gottschalks Kids in the Central Coast Plaza on June 13, 1995.

Gift-wrapping for sorority at the mall during holidays

“Our philanthropic sorority, Beta Sigma Phi, had a fundraising gift-wrapping booth at Christmas at the exit from Gottschalks to the mall. We spent many wonderful hours wrapping gifts, chatting with customers and raising money for our various charities. I got to know so many of my sisters better from spending time together at the mall.” — Kathleen Walker, Los Osos

Watching DJs broadcast on radio

“Loved the glass booth for Coast 101 FM and you could watch DJs live on air.” — James Linnenkamp, Paso Robles

‘Good times’

“I worked at Toucan’s sandwich shop. It was one of three businesses owned by Gretchen Gonyer. The other ones were Dairy Queen and Crushed Grape. Good times.” — Julie Hudgens Bell

Haunted houses at Halloween

“The haunted house that was there during Halloween. I think that SLO High put it on? Or maybe a local drama or performance group, I can’t remember that part. But I remember it being fun, scary and a good time!” — Marissa Greenberg, Atascadero

The relocated Gottschalks Kids store in the Central Coast Plaza on June 13, 1995. The department expanded out of the main store location into the mall.
The relocated Gottschalks Kids store in the Central Coast Plaza on June 13, 1995. The department expanded out of the main store location into the mall.

Still missing Gottschalk’s department store

“We still miss Gottschalks department store. I remember looking forward to the sale coupons and shopping for everything I needed from home goods and everything for the family. Still talk about it today. I also remember Mike’s Shoes, which is still open.” — Marlene Goodman, Shell Beach

Remember the arcade?

“The arcade was cool with the only Virtua Racing game in town and Merlo’s Cutlery was a cool store, but someone’s bright idea to have Embassy Suites as an anchor ‘store’ was the biggest birdbrained idea imaginable, and we all see what the final outcome of that decision was.” — Todd Kent, San Luis Obispo

‘That was a nice mall’

“That was a nice mall. I remember the model railroaders’ club used to have a great display around Christmas. Indoor malls were fun in general, but online shopping really dealt them a death blow. When I was in junior high and high school, I’d go there just because there was a good chance I’d see my friends there and we’d find something to do from there.” — Jon Bruckner, Los Osos

Corvettes in the mall

“I was the fine jewelry manager at Gottschalks and worked with wonderful people. I was also secretary of SLO VETTES and we would park our Corvettes inside the mall for a contest once a year. People would vote for their favorites!!! So cool. “ — Patti Anderson, Morro Bay

The Central Coast Plaza, San Luis Obispo’s first and only enclosed mall, was running out of steam by Feb. 19, 1998. Some of the store fronts near the end of the mall nearest Embassy Suites never found tenants. It was later torn down and rebuilt.
The Central Coast Plaza, San Luis Obispo’s first and only enclosed mall, was running out of steam by Feb. 19, 1998. Some of the store fronts near the end of the mall nearest Embassy Suites never found tenants. It was later torn down and rebuilt.

‘A bleak sign of what was to become of the shopping mall’

“I grew up in Oceano so my memories of going to ‘the mall’ were mostly of the one in Santa Maria. ... The Central Coast Plaza didn’t really shine in comparison. One end was anchored by Gottschalks but the other end was a hotel. This model didn’t really lend itself to become a place where locals endlessly wandered around and wasn’t really a fun place for a kid to be. There was a nearby Sears and a Mervyn’s in the sprawling parking lots that surrounded it. There was also what was at one time the world’s largest free-standing Taco Bell and a Wherehouse Music that sold concert tickets as well as CDs and tapes, but none of those things were inside of the enclosed area of the mall. I have a vague idea that the stand-up comedian Bob Zany may have done sets near the Embassy Suites side and maybe he even had one of his Comedy Outlets there, but it probably didn’t happen during the day whenever I had visited. My clearest memories are in the later ‘90s when I was living in SLO and was going to Cal Poly. I remember most of the storefronts being empty with only a few Gottschalks related shops like Gottschalks Kids on that end of the corridor. A bleak sign of what was to become of the shopping mall in general.” — Carver Cordes

Miller’s Outpost for acid-wash jeans and mock turtlenecks

I arrived here in 1988, and my go-to spot for mall clothes shopping in SLO was Miller’s Outpost, which could be reliably counted on to supply all the acid-wash needs of a new college student. My favorite two shirts at the time were a pair of matching striped mock turtlenecks, one in purple and one in green. If not for Miller’s Outpost, I would have had to do all of my apparel shopping at Mervyn’s, where I once made the unfortunate choice of buying a blue silk jacket, without carefully considered what occasion and locale here would be suitable for a blue silk jacket. It turns out no occasion and no locale. The other thing I remember about the mall was always walking all the way to the Embassy Suites end hoping someday to discover something cool had opened in one of the desolate, vacant storefronts that seemed to multiply with each passing year. Alas, it was not to be so. You’d be lucky to make the trip there and back without having a tumbleweed cross your path. — Joe Tarica, Tribune editor

The Central Coast Mall, San Luis Obispo’s first and only enclosed mall, was running out of steam by Feb 19, 1998. Some of the store fronts near the end of the mall nearest the motel never found tenants. It was later torn down and rebuilt.
The Central Coast Mall, San Luis Obispo’s first and only enclosed mall, was running out of steam by Feb 19, 1998. Some of the store fronts near the end of the mall nearest the motel never found tenants. It was later torn down and rebuilt.

Have other memories of SLO’s mall? Send them to reporter Kaytlyn Leslie at kleslie@thetribunenews.com. You can also submit them via the form below.

Have a suggestion for other nostalgic memories from SLO County’s history you want us to dive into? Send those recommendations along as well. We can’t wait to see what you all dig up.