Last weekend The Haven, a thrift shop based in Arroyo Grande, quietly opened a second storefront in downtown San Luis Obispo — a move that could reshape student shopping options near Cal Poly and keep a local charity link alive. The new location, which launched on Sept. 26, combines discounted secondhand apparel with plans for community markets and maker stalls.
The shop now occupies 532 Higuera St., the site that for more than a decade housed a school-run thrift outlet supporting San Luis Obispo Classical Academy. In the weeks before the soft opening, co-owners Veronica Tagre and Morgan Reynolds offered remaining inventory from the previous tenant at steep markdowns while introducing a selection from their own collection.
Tagre and Reynolds started The Haven late last year alongside Reynolds’ parents and rebranded a family shop called Envy Me. Their Arroyo Grande location developed a sizable social following over months of curbside pickups and curated stock, giving the pair momentum for expansion.
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On opening day, the store mixed casual retail with a neighborhood vibe: a local pop-up served coffee and matcha, shoppers browsed curated racks, and the team used the larger footprint to preview plans for rotating vendors and arts-focused events.
Why this matters now: the new SLO storefront sits closer to Cal Poly, which owners expect will increase student traffic and expand access to low-cost, sustainable clothing for campus shoppers. The owners also commit to continuing financial support for the nearby school that previously benefitted from the site.
What to know about the new shop
- Address: 532 Higuera St., downtown San Luis Obispo.
- Community support: a portion of proceeds will be donated to San Luis Obispo Classical Academy.
- Buying days: Saturdays plus the second and fourth Tuesdays each month, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.; sellers may bring up to 35 laundered items.
- Seller payout: up to 25% cash or up to 35% store credit for accepted items.
- Events: plans include a vendor area, pop-up markets and arts-and-crafts programming.
Students who visited on opening day said the store’s selection felt fresh compared with what had been available previously at the location. Catherine Samrick, a philosophy junior, said she was surprised by the quality and variety and plans to return as the shop grows its inventory.
For Tagre and Reynolds, the San Luis Obispo site is more than extra retail space — they see it as a community hub. They’re still finishing renovations, adding fixtures and expanding racks, but already envision regular markets and partnerships with local makers to keep offerings varied and locally produced.
“Opening here gives us a better sense of the neighborhood and the customers we’ll serve,” Reynolds said, noting that the shorter trip from campus should encourage more student visits. Tagre added the store aims to maintain a steady flow of items and evolve based on what the community responds to.
Beyond convenience, the new location touches on two wider trends: students seeking affordable, sustainable clothing, and small retailers using physical space to host local creators and events. If The Haven follows through on vendor programming and regular buying days, it could become a modest but meaningful node in San Luis Obispo’s secondhand economy.
