In 1994, Mother's Tavern opened in downtown San Luis Obispo and eventually became a staple in the area. This week they officially closed their doors for good.
“I think this has been one of the hot spots and one of the heart of downtown SLO for decades,” explained James Meno, general manager of Buffalo Pub and Grill. .
Eric Peterson, owner of North County Restaurant Group, will take over the space and convert it into Feral Kitchen and Lounge.
“I always wanted to go to San Luis Obispo, and they approached us with the opportunity to do something in San Luis, and we were really excited about it. I wanted to jump on that,” Peterson explained.
Feral Kitchen and Lounge is a complete makeover from its previous location, offering a restaurant and lounge atmosphere in the heart of San Luis Obispo's nightlife scene, surrounded by bars such as Buffalo Pub, Frog and Peach, and The Mark .
“I'm happy to see it,” said Monique Stone, a local resident. [it is] Something with a new culinary experience, and something a little different when you come downtown. ”
Meno said: “If there's not too much change, for lack of a better word, things tend to get a little stale. I know new bars and restaurants are doing some pretty great things, so it's really hard to see. I’m really looking forward to it.” Things are happening in places like North County. ”
North County Restaurant Group has eight restaurants in northern San Luis Obispo County, but this will be its first restaurant in San Luis Obispo. But for Peterson, who grew up attending Mathers as a child and even in his early 20s, it's hard to say goodbye to the iconic spot.
“It's sad to see it go, but I think it served its purpose. We're really excited to bring something fresh and new to downtown,” he said.
Previous owner Ash Management also closed another downtown spot, Creaky Tiki Bar and Grill, last year. But the company maintains a strong presence in San Luis Obispo, owning Frog and Peach, Milestone Tavern and Bull's Tavern, to name a few. Attempts to contact Ash Management and the owner for more information on what led to the closure have not resulted in a response.
Feral is scheduled to open by early July and will be open seven days a week, Peterson said.
