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Article reports San Luis Obispo downtown on the brink

October 11, 2025

By KAREN VELIE

A reporter details the ongoing decline of San Luis Obispo’s downtown including vacant buildings, less foot traffic, increasing prices and issues with paid parking, in SFGate’s “Heartbreaking: Once thriving California downtown is on the brink.”

In September alone, the article details closures of Branca’s gallery, Brixton, Antigua Brewing Company, Starbucks and Avanti.  Meanwhile, tariffs and climbing rents are leading additional business owners to pull up stakes.

The article includes allegations the SLO City Council’s missteps on issues such as paid parking have led to the decline in the downtown, with consumers headed to free parking downtown areas in Paso Robles and Atascadero.

“The city of SLO has admitted to some gaffes in the recent past, namely with its parking, according to SFGATE. “After deciding to significantly increase downtown parking rates in 2023, the city saw backlash from residents and merchants. Then it rolled the hikes back in the spring of 2024, and even apologized.”

 


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Poly has ruined everything… lets just be honest…


9

It’s like the city doesn’t care about us old white people. If the Republicans raise the price of my health insurance I’m going to have to pick lettuce to pay for it. I’ll never have time to Drive my big truck downtown for???


-21

Barry Hussein already raised (doubled) health insurance costs by making them “free” over a decade ago…..


11

The low-IQ amongst us are so lazy in trying to understand true causation.


0

My original 100% emoji did not print in my post. I agree with your sentiment, 100%.


0

I sure am happy this has nothing to do with Trump’s economy.

Thank you SFGate for being a beacon of accurate reporting.


-14

You names explains it all to us. Businesses were fleeing downtown SLO long before Trump was in office.


Absolutely humorous how you try to pin this LONG ongoing problem with SLO’s downtown on “Trumps economy”.


How true this is:


“THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH OUR LIBERAL FRIENDS IS THAT THEY KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT ISN’T SO!!!!!!”


3

This is the result of local democrat leadership. They are ruining downtown SLO with their “”green policy” absurd bike lanes all over downtown (for the few dozen bicyclist riding the two wheeler to and fro), slabsurd parking cost, and absolutely poor building & planning.


Lib policy by lib leadership that is not supported by the vast majority of the local people, it’s a common trend in blue cities and states. Libtards are consistently on the opposite side of the majority of Americans stance.


“The problem with our liberal friends is that they know SO much that isn’t so”


WAKE UP AMERICANS AND MAKE A CHANGE.


31

Yes. I am 100% sure it is the bike lanes affecting small businesses and not the tariffs or insane rental expenses. And how do you think the “libtards” are controlling everything when them vast majority of people are against their ideas. Do us all a favor and move to Idaho and Texas. Funny how the blue states are donor states and the red states are welfare states. Why do you think that is? Why does the economy always do better under Democratic leadership? Even you exalted rotting pumpkin admitted that.


-24

Some of the changes to the roads have only made it hard to drive… the curbs down the roadway is ridiculous… you can’t make a right turn until the oncoming cars pass… no where to park…. streets are busier than ever… I avoid downtown like the plague… and with places to eat and shop away from downtown this was bound to happen…


21

The problem with our liberal friends is that they know SO much about everything that isn’t so!!!!


99.9% of us are not going to ride our bikes to downtown. The absurd bike lanes take away parking and make even MORE difficult than it already is ti getting through downtown and is a definite cause for many not to want to venture into downtown SLO.


And I know now common sense in not your strong points but just an FYI…busineses were leaving the downtown are long before any tariffs….NICE TRY!!!


And yes, the majority of people DO NOT support “libtard” ideas and ideology but the fact that so many lefties still hold political positions of power, (for the time being), gave the an opportunity in our recent past ti push radical policies on us and we are still dealing with them right now.


I’ll move to Texas or Idaho if you start supporting “common sense ideology” and “Americans First” policies….We both know that’s not going to happen!!!!


The 3⅓ years are going to be hard on you. I wish you well my liberal friend.


5

Intetesting how city officials have done everything they can to get people out of the cars and find alternative ways to go downtown and yet call for another parking structure costing big $$$$$’s


45

Another large downtown store, going away. Avanti shoes, been there for 30 years, can no longer make enough income to stay open.


That’s another building to stay empty, until another bar opens it back up…


32

SLO is run by democrats.


52

Yes, I remember when the city council of SLO started a trade war with the entire world and drastically increased the cost of doing business. We should vote them all out.


-1

Open your eyes and take a look at the difference between a red managed city/state. Red is clean, prosperous and lawful versus Blue’s very corrupt, crime ridden, filthy and dilapidated


-2

Sure, I like to travel 30 miles because the parking is free.

The same fate awaits Paso soon. SLO snoot level has risen to unimaginable heights. What’s left for the locals? Lower the rent. You will find tenants.


39

I completely agree with you Mr Yan. This post has more common sense in it than all your other posts combined.


Good job, well said.


19

Finally, right?


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