San Luis Obispo's Beloved Thrift Store is Changing Hands After 13 Years

The San Luis Obispo thrifting scene is facing a major shift. Fred & Betty's, a longstanding local business, is changing hands. The Haven, an Arroyo Grande shop specializing in curated secondhand clothing, is taking over the management of Fred & Betty's, according to the businesses. Under the new arrangement, the existing store will remain open while local private school SLO Classical Academy, which founded the outpost 13 years ago, turns its attention toward other projects, per the Academy website. The Haven held its first official buying day at the 532 Higuera St. location in San Luis Obispo on September 3. The new San Luis Obispo location will sell secondhand clothing, shoes and accessories, while allowing customers to exchange their clothing for cash or store credit. The store will continue to donate part of its profits to SLO Classical Academy under the new management, according to the Academy. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Fred & Betty's (@fredandbettys) A $15 fill-a-bag sale continues through Labor Day, with bags being provided to shoppers. The store stated that 'everything must go,' as it continues its 50%-off sale and prepares the space for The Haven's tenure. While the new owners are clearing out Fred & Betty's remaining inventory as they remake the store into The Haven's second location, employees who desired to stay remained on staff, the San Luis Obispo Tribune reported. New programming has been floated by the new management for the store, including reserved space for local vendors and community activities such as craft and scrapbooking nights. They intend to lean further into the vintage, Y2K-inspired clothing that has shaped The Haven's identity. According to the website, The Haven started out as Envy Me, a Grover Beach consignment store founded by one of the current owners' mothers. Morgan Reynolds and Veronica Tagre reimagined the business as The Haven, and their new store debuted in November 2023 before moving to 103 E. Branch St. in Arroyo Grande in January 2024. Fred & Betty's remains open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, according to its website. The racks may carry new inventory soon, but the thrift store's mission to recycle clothes for a good cause persists.