SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.- While the San Luis Obispo nightlife is pouring money into the downtown economy, some local businesses say they're taking the heat from the party scene.
"Help us say goodbye to SLO" or "closing after 17 years;" it's signs like these that have been popping up on the windows of long-time businesses in downtown San Luis Obispo.
"I used to think when I was growing up I would be here forever and now I kind of think that someday this might not be Charles Shoes," said Jason Ashley, Manager of Charles Shoes.
Jason Ashley is the third generation of his family to work at Charles Shoes, a business that's been opened in downtown for nearly 50 years.
"There's a lot of messes that were dealing with," explained Ashley.
Within the last year, Ashley says the bars and restaurants in the area are taking a toll on his shop.
"We often wake up, or come into work in the morning to some of these party leftovers in front of our store, said Ashley.
Within the last month , Mondeos Pronto announced they were closing after being opened for more than a decade, followed by Jim's Campus Camera shuttering their business after 42 years.
"The reality is that downtown is always changing and that's a good thing. That brings vitalization, it brings energy and it brings income," said Deborah Cash, Executive Director, San Luis Obispo Downtown Association.
A large amount of the income coming from bars and restaurants in the area, according to the Downtown Association.
Other longtime shops like, Tom's Toys, who have been around since the 70s, say the growing nightlife hasn't affected them.
"I don't believe it's really affected our business. I know we have been going pretty strong, I know the owner has a high purchasing power," said Carlos Macias, Manager, Tom's Toys.
The Downtown Association says although they are seeing a trend of more restaurants and bars opening in the area compared to mom and pop shops, they say have no plans of getting rid of any of the historic buildings that have been around for hundreds of years.
