Warehouse Turned Hotspot: Duncan Alley in San Luis Obispo
Story by Christian Camacho
Photography by Stephen Heraldo
Creatures of habit, many of us divvy up our time between two main locations — home and work, our “first” and “second” places, respectively. These classifications, according to sociologist Ray Oldenburg, are rounded out by a “third place,” a public location outside of home and work where one can socialize and engage with their community. With the development of Duncan Alley on Broad Street in San Luis Obispo, Damien Mavis hopes to offer the community its third place.
Damien moved to San Luis Obispo in 1993 to receive his degree in mechanical engineering from Cal Poly. The Co-founder of CoVelop Inc., he has completed numerous development projects across the county. After building the Creamery Marketplace in Downtown SLO, Damien and his team turned their talents toward an area they felt deserved more attention.
“There are about a thousand homes within a short walk of [Duncan Alley], but this area really didn’t have an authentic third place where people could come and hang out,” he explains. His team thought giving the property the right facelift might turn things around.
Since its development just a few years ago, Duncan Alley has been home to businesses established by locals, for locals. The collective of food and beverage owners helped turn a dilapidated business park into a warm, inviting social nest. The once cold, industrial walls of this concrete complex are now alive with the glow of the incandescent lights in quaint, refined tasting rooms. The goal was not just a place for people to sip and savor, but also an interactive and authentic experience. “You could be sipping on a glass of wine and probably talking to the winemaker who served it to you,” says Damien. “And if you have any questions, they might be able to just walk you into the back and show you how it was made.”
Coby Parker-Garcia remembers coming to Duncan Alley as a child with his parents to pick up paint supplies from Warnes Paint. He now operates El Lugar Wines in the same space that used to house rows of color palettes. The tasting room is decorated with plants curated by his wife, Katie Noonan, who both assists with operations and works as a florist. Meanwhile, Coby maintains the barrel room and production facility in back.
The character of El Lugar, which in Spanish translates to “the place,” pays homage to Coby’s Mexican-American heritage and is displayed on the walls of the former paint store, like an exhibit in a museum. “We don’t own any vineyards, so it’s kind of easy to tell our story,” Coby says.
Their story is just one of many to be taken in at Duncan Alley, where each vendor brings something new to the proverbial table.
“It’s neat because each space is so different, right? It’s people’s own little personality, which is cool,” Coby explains. “All the owners are great people. They’re relatively young entrepreneurs. This is their business; this is their livelihood.”
The rising cost of rent downtown can stop new businesses from ever starting. But Tommy Valois, Co-founder of Shindig Cider, says the affordable rent here has made it possible for small businesses like his to get off the ground. And the flow of business is strong. The Duncan Alley community frequently collaborates with local food and art vendors, hosting recurring events for those looking for a weekly, consistent watering hole.
Keara McCall is one such regular. Tuesdays find Keara and her friends teaming up for trivia night at Shindig, where they enjoy Mexican food from the Taco Tuesday vendor posted at Ancient Owl Beer Garden and Bottle Shoppe. In her search for a fun, yet challenging way to test her knowledge off campus, Keara has found a spot to call her own.
“The cider, in the first place, is really good,” she says. “It’s just a nice time during the week to see my friends. That’s kind of my favorite thing about it. I see them on the weekends and everything, which is fun, but it’s also cool to have a time in the middle of our schedules to all hang out.”
A bona fide third place may be easily associated with a place to grab an adult beverage, but Duncan Alley also has space for fitness and sober aspirations. In a single visit, one could enjoy a meal after a Pilates or yoga class at Ritual Reform or Ivory Yoga. Locals flock to The KBRG Coffee Lab, the latest coffee shop from the Poor But Sexy project, for their morning or afternoon caffeine fix. From meeting up with friends for coffee or a drink, to working on fitness and spiritual goals, this collaborative of vendors offers a full day of experiences under one roof.
