Linnaea’s Cafe is set to open a new kiosk, Slodega, in the developing Mission Plaza, co-owner Alex Quirk announced during a State of Downtown meeting on March 2.
Local business owners and community members attended a meeting at La Esquina Taqueria to discuss past, present and future plans for downtown San Luis Obispo, according to the Downtown SLO website. Along with updates on downtown parking, business owners shared plans for new additions to Mission Plaza.
Linnaea’s Cafe co-owner, Alex Quirk, shared plans for their new cafe kiosk, which will be a walk-up service counter for customers to purchase beverages that Linnaea’s customers are familiar with and some new items.
The concept is inspired by Rusty Quirk’s, Quirk’s wife and Linnaea’s co-owner, time on the East Coast. Slodega will feature offerings such as a classic bacon, egg and cheese bagel and a news-stand posted out front, typical of a New York bodega.
The Quirks are planning on collaborating with local breweries, food trucks and brands, such as Salty Bagel, for gluten-free bagel options. The kiosk will have an outdoor dining area and grassy areas for patrons to enjoy their drinks on, according to Alex.
“We really want to offer acoustic music. Something super lowkey, not like anything crazy like we do at [Linnaea’s] cafe,” Alex said. “My wife and I will get off work and be like, ‘Oh, I wish there was a place where you could go sit on a lawn and drink a beer.’”
Quirk is hoping to operate Slodega with similar hours as Linnaea’s Cafe, which is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays, 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends. As of now, there is no set opening date, but Alex mentioned they are aiming for mid-summer 2026. Construction will begin following the completion of the Mission Plaza renovation.
READ MORE: San Luis Obispo begins $5.8 million Mission Plaza renovation, adding cafe and restrooms
Along with Slodega, the Quirks also have plans to open their production bakery, named Villain Bakery, for retail. Villain Bakery will be hosting a pop-up at their 722 Marsh St. downtown location on March 14, according to Alex. For now, the co-owners’ goal is to start by being open once a week, as an official opening has been deprioritized since news of Slodega.
During the meeting, Alex and Rusty Quirk were named recipients of the 2025 Outstanding Business Award.
Parking Structure to open March 17
The new Cultural Arts Parking Structure, located on the corner of Nipomo Street and Monterey Street, will be open to the public on March 17, with the first 28 days of opening being free of charge to users, according to City Engineer Brian Nelson. The structure will have 397 parking spots with ADA stalls on each of the five levels.
“Since it’s brand new, free parking is always a good incentive. Just inviting people really to come and experience it without having to think about the cost of parking,” Nelson said.
There will also be 41 electric vehicle charging stalls, along with bike racks and bike lockers that visitors can utilize. At a minimal fee, bike lockers that are fully enclosed and lockable are available for those concerned about bike theft and vandalism, according to Nelson.
On the north side of the parking structure’s rooftop, there will be a rentable event space that the public can use. Those interested can reach out to the San Luis Obispo Parks and Recreation Department for permitting and availability, according to Nelson.