Locals discuss the changes they've seen on the Central Coast

Over 2 million people have come to call the Central Coast their home, migrating from all over the world. Folks born and raised on the coast have seen drastic changes, while newcomers only know the oceanside for what it is now. Underdeveloped countryside towns made up the coast with a single leading road and local businesses before they became large cities with big box stores and fast-food chain restaurants. Finding local businesses is challenging when they don’t always appear in a quick Google Search. However, involvement in the community allows folks to learn about up-and-coming companies and get to know others in their neighborhoods.

When I think back on what the Central Coast looked like when I was growing up, it feels like a vivid dream you had while sleeping, but you can only remember certain moments when you wake up. At my adolescent age, I lived in the lower part of Nipomo, California, which I (along with many neighbors) called downtown since you’d have to drive over the bridge and down a semi-steep hill to get to my side of town. It still has one Catholic and Christian church, an elementary school, and a small steakhouse. All the original houses once surrounded by open land are now occupied by cookie-cutter homes with small backyards.

On the other side of the bridge, chain companies have started to make a home in spaces that once held small businesses, such as Little Jocko’s, a family business that was an extension of Jocko’s Steakhouse. While creating a shopping center allows locals to shop in their town, it takes away from the small-town charm. Being a resident of Santa Maria for almost a decade, the days I drive through my first hometown always leave me with a melancholy feeling, seeing the number of small businesses decrease.

Many Central Coast locals feel an unsettling shift in their hometown due to some of their favorite local companies not being around anymore. San Luis Obispo bookseller at Phoenix Books, Lindsey Burke, has also seen profound changes in her community, stating, “A lot of the local businesses from when I was growing up are gone, especially from San Luis. It’s more restaurants and bars; it’s more geared toward a college student.”

Reminiscing about her childhood, Burke claims she misses all of the eclectic shops that would sell knickknacks and the bookstores she visited as a kid. “I mostly remember the bookstores, like Earthling and Leon’s, and there were a couple of other toy shops outside Tom’s Toys,” she adds.

Even though chain companies have slowly started to take over parts of the towns, the locals make it their mission to support their fellow small businesses. Local bookstore owner of Monarch Books in Arroyo Grande and mom of six kids, Taneesha Regez, enjoys visiting her friend’s businesses in the village when she’s not at the beach or hiking around the coast. “We love Jaffa, the Mediterranean restaurant in the village, and the whole family,” Regez says, “And my neighbor growing up owns Humdinger [brewery], so we love their chicken sandwiches and dippers.”

As the Central Coast continues to develop and expand with new hang-out spots, some folks claim there’s still work to be done within the communities regarding accepting others for who they are. Santa Maria, Nipomo, Arroyo Grande, Pismo Beach, Shell

Beach, and Avila Beach have strong political views that don’t welcome individuals of opposing views and backgrounds.

Arroyo Grande’s Hive Supply Company’s store manager, Caleb Clark, hopes to see progress in his community within the next 10 years. “If there’s progress being made, then I think it would be wonderful to live in an area that is so welcoming of all walks of life, whether race, sexuality, or religious background.”

The Central Coast receives thousands of tourists yearly; Pismo Beach alone has over 2 million tourists visiting annually via sanluisobispoguide.com. On the other hand, San Luis Obispo has over 7 million, according to slocal.com. Yet, The Village in Arroyo Grande doesn't have that many visitors, so creating a welcoming environment where anyone can feel safe, supported, and accepted is crucial to making the town well-known. Clark states, “It’s [Arroyo Grande] a beautiful area, and I think there’s some growth for tourism. I think that rather than keeping everything the same, let’s freshen it up, challenge each other, and grow the community.”

Bringing in more tourists can strengthen the community and boost the local economy, which helps keep small businesses open. Get involved by attending city council meetings and community events. Or, support a local company instead of opting for fast food or fast fashion retailers. Get to know the locals by sparking up conversations when you’re out around the town. Challenge yourself and use your voice to create positive change in your environment. In 10 to 20 years, there could be a lot of noticeable changes around the coast while still keeping the small-town charm.