Last month, the Pismo Beach community was shocked by the sudden closure of a cliffside restaurant determined by a judge to be at imminent risk of falling into the ocean.
The Ventana Grill operated for 16 years perched on the bluffs of Pismo Beach, across the street from where Highway 101 reaches the ocean, but closed Sept. 12 after Judge Craig Van Rooyen barred The Old Custom House Inc. — which owns Ventana Grill — from “operating, using or otherwise occupying for any purpose the cliffside building.”
Though the order apparently stems from a dispute between restaurant operator The Old Custom House Inc. and property owner CCC PSC Owner LLC, court filings noted “significant stability issues” with the bluffs identified by geotechnical experts — and anyone who lives in Shell Beach would be quick to tell you it’s far from the only property facing these stability issues.
Eroding sea cliffs at Ventana Grill prompted a judge’s order to close the Pismo Beach business, seen here on Sept. 8, 2026. Part of the parking lot is on reinforced concrete at the edge. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
Dealing with coastal erosion in a community built on bluffs generally involves one of two approaches.
Coastal armoring involves implementing seawalls and other structural supports to stabilize the bluff to prevent further erosion, while managed retreat, the California Coastal Commission’s preferred approach, involves relocating or removing buildings and infrastructure at risk of collapse, allowing the coastline to naturally erode inland.
Coastal bluff erosion is generally considered to be episodic — losing one foot of a bluff one year and 10 feet the next — but at a certain point, the advance of the ocean can be irreversible, putting structures and people at risk.
Here’s what Pismo Beach candidates for Mayor and City Council said about the Ventana Grill’s closure and how the city should deal with coastal property at risk of collapse.
Eroding sea cliffs at Ventana Grill prompted a judge’s order to close the Pismo Beach business, seen here on Sept. 8, 2026. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
Candidates for mayor
Candidates for mayor generally viewed the closure of the Ventana Grill itself as a local loss, but were more divided on how to deal with the underlying issue of coastal erosion.
Incumbent City Council member Scott Newton called the closure a “stark warning sign” for the future of how discussions about local control will play out in a community whose land use decisions are dictated as much by the California Coastal Commission as the local government.
He said the city must fight for expanded local permitting authority to prevent similar closures, and he called for reform of the Coastal Act to give local governments “final, unappealable say over protecting existing commercial infrastructure and private property.”
“This situation perfectly illustrates why the current system is broken,” Newton said. “Pismo Beach needs the legal ability to approve emergency repairs, but if the city does, the (California Coastal Commmission) can require them to remove them if they ultimately don’t approve the city’s approved emergency permit. And because over half of our city falls within the Coastal Zone, (an) unelected body can override our local decisions.”
Scott Newton is running for mayor in Pismo Beach. Courtesy Photo
His opponent, attorney and former Oceano Community Services District director Cynthia Replogle, viewed the closure of the restaurant as a loss for the community and its employees.
She said the city must finish updating its Safety Element to account for future issues of this nature.
“We can’t fight the sea, and the city’s own draft sea level rise assessment shows anticipated coastal erosion over the coming years,” Replogle said. “City planning has lagged behind the latest science, with the current Safety Element, which addressed coastal erosion and other hazards, dating from 1992.”
Former Oceano Community Services District director Cynthia Replogle is running for mayor of Pismo Beach in the Nov. 3, 2026 election. Heather Gray
Fellow race newcomer and retired Air Force veteran Shelby Bowen said the Ventana Grill has “held a special place in my heart” since she had her bridal shower there over a decade ago.
“What I don’t want to see happen? What has happened to the old Alex’s and old Del’s, sitting eyesores within our beautiful community,” Bowen said. “Pismo deserves to see progress, beauty and purpose within our city.
“We need to move forward with a united, bigger and better plan for the old Ventana,” she continued. “My efforts will always serve the people of the community first.”
Shelby Bowen is running for mayor of Pismo Beach. Bowen is a U.S. Air Force veteran and is the owner of Equine Coastal Wellness. Joan Lynch jlynch@thetribunenews.com
Candidates for City Council
Candidates running for the two open seats on the City Council also expressed their dismay over the grill’s closure and what it means for future decisions related to erosion.
Incumbent Stacy Inman said her background as a planning commissioner has made her closely aware of the risks posed by Mother Nature along the coastline.
She said she’s read the declarations of the engineers who assessed the Ventana Grill and believes the “building is unsafe now and has been in the recent past,” leading to an inevitable closure.
She said the City Council can prepare for future erosion issues via updates to the General Plan and Phase 1 of the Local Coastal Plan, both of which she voted for in May with the rest of the council.
Stacy Inman is running for Pismo Beach City Council. Courtesy photo
She also said the Safety Element, which will be included in Phase 2 of the Local Coastal Plan, will be the best way to look to the future on coastal erosion. It will have its first public meeting for residents on Sept. 29 at 5 p.m. at the Pismo Beach Veterans Hall.
Inman said the city’s staff is currently in discussions with the Coastal Commission to create a protection plan for blufftop neighborhoods north of the Ventana Grill that seeks to stop future closures of this nature.
“We must protect the health and safety of those in our community,” Inman said. “In my work as a City Council member, I will continue to work to protect our residents and visitors and work to ensure that businesses will not have to close due to the current and future hazards in our coastal and bluff areas.”
Clare Malone Prichard is running for Pismo Beach City Council. Courtesy Photo
Planning Commissioner Clare Malone Prichard said she was saddened to hear of the closure of a “beloved institution” but understood and supported the property owner’s decision to put public safety first.
“As a councilmember, I’ll advocate for a proactive and educated approach to anticipating the effects of coastal erosion — one that protects people, supports our local residents and businesses, and plans responsibly for Pismo Beach’s future,” Malone Prichard said. “We can’t stop the forces of nature, but we can prepare for them, act sooner, and strive to make our community more resilient.”
Real estate agent and property manager Gianni Scangarello similarly said the property’s owners made the right decision in the interest of public safety.
Pismo Beach City Council candidate Gianni Scangarello delivers his opening statement during a League of Women Voters candidate forum on Oct. 7, 2026. Joan Lynch jlynch@thetribunenews.com
“If the reason is for community safety, then it was the right decision,” Scangarello said. “With that being said, this ties back to the Coastal Commission and the right for the owners to fix and secure their property.”
Probation officer Manuel Olivas did not reply to multiple requests for comment from The Tribune.
The Tribune
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Joan Lynch is a housing reporter at the San Luis Obispo Tribune. Originally from Kenosha, Wisconsin, Joan studied journalism and telecommunications at Ball State University, graduating in 2022.
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