Paso Robles: Trying Out New Locations

It can be difficult for a business to change locations when they have been established in one for a period of time. There are numerous issues they can face and many times, as I’m sure you know from experience, the new location was not for the better.

One business that recently changed locations here in Paso Robles is Vivant Fine Cheese. It used to be located on Pine Street downtown, between Hotel Cheval and the candy store on the corner of Pine Street and 11^th Street. Granted their old location did not give them a lot of interior room but the patio was one of the coolest downtown.

Their new location, still on Pine Street (821 Pine St. Suite B) but a couple blocks south, away from the downtown square. The new location is much bigger inside and obviously gives them more space to do the work they need to do. They still have a patio but it only has a few tables versus roughly 5 to 8 that they had at the old spot. I definitely liked the old patio better but with the space they were given they did a good job at the new location.

We stopped in there over the weekend to check it all out and have some lunch. The food is still fantastic and the service was great, as usual. It’s one of those interesting things though, to see what a new space can do to a business. You can have the same product and the same people but if you switch locations you are also changing the ambiance on some level as well as the expectation for those used to stopping in.

Take Artisan Restaurant for example, when they moved from their old location a few blocks from the park to being right on the downtown park the ambiance changed…intentionally and unintentionally. A lot of people love the new Artisan but there’s a pretty big group of folks that really prefer the original Artisan.

Whether a business is moving for financial reasons, personal reasons, for more or less space, or for a more desired location…it can be a risky change. Artisan moving to the downtown square was a good move in my mind but I don’t know for sure because I don’t have access to their financials. Being on the square though, just seems like a more desired location. Whereas Vivant moved further from the square, I wonder if that will hurt walk in traffic.

Again, I probably won’t ever know for sure I can only go off things I hear and my opinions of how businesses work in Paso Robles. All that said, I write this to inform you to check out and support Vivant Fine Cheese in their new location…check it out for yourself. I also write this as a possible reminder for businesses to really think about the moves they make. I’ve seen some businesses that change location and they thrive…far more than their previous place. On the other hand, I’ve seen new spots utterly crumble due to either a lack of forethought and planning or simply not understanding the dynamics of the new spot.

With the commentary over, go check out the new Vivant location. Below you’ll find some pics I took when we visited them last weekend. We love their sandwiches along with their cheese and meat plates. Mmmm good!!!