Fred and Betty’s isn’t closing, but the quirky San Luis Obispo thrift store known for its eclectic mix of secondhand finds is about to get a makeover.
The Haven, an Arroyo Grande secondhand clothing store with a penchant for vintage finds and Pinterest-worthy pieces, took over management of Fred and Betty’s on Aug. 14 from SLO Classical Academy, the nonprofit private school that founded the shop 13 years ago to generate additional funding for its students.
For now, shoppers will still find the Fred and Betty’s name—and plenty of its old inventory. The Haven plans to operate the store as is while selling through its existing stock before eventually transforming the space into its second location.
Right now, that means a lot of thrifting.
“The store is just super full with all the thrift store items, so we just have to push that out,” The Haven co-owner Veronica Tagre said.
To help with that, nearly everything is half off until further notice. Once the racks clear, The Haven plans to fill them with its own mix of secondhand clothes, shoes, and accessories, with an emphasis on vintage, Y2K, and whatever else catches its owners’ eyes.
“We just want to make sure everyone’s finding, like, the cute trendy pieces that are in their Pinterest boards, basically,” Tagre said.
The Haven itself grew out of another secondhand store. Tagre met co-owner Morgan Reynolds while the two worked at Envy Me, Tagre’s mother’s Grover Beach consignment shop. When her mother decided to sell, the pair teamed up with Morgan’s parents, Jahi and Christina Edwards, to take over the business.
They ditched furniture and home goods, moved away from consignment, rebranded as The Haven, and eventually relocated to the Arroyo Grande Village. The store officially opened under its new identity in November 2023.
When its owners heard that Fred and Betty’s could potentially close, they saw another opportunity.
SLO Classical Academy had reached a crossroads with the store, school Chief Advancement Officer Amanda Ainsworth said. The school, now in its 22nd year, originally created Fred and Betty’s both to serve the broader community and bring in additional revenue for its students and programs. Over 13 years, the thrift shop grew into a community fixture—and a project that required time and attention from school staff.
As the academy turned its attention toward other larger projects, administrators began considering whether someone else could run Fred and Betty’s without severing the store’s connection to the school.
“Over the last couple of years, we kind of noticed a shift in the thrifting world,” Ainsworth said. “And we have some other things that we’re working on at the school that we want to focus our efforts on.”
The solution was to hand over day-to-day operations while keeping SLO Classical Academy financially tied to the store. The Haven will operate the business independently, but a portion of its proceeds will continue benefiting the academy and its nearly 400 students, who range from infants through 12th graders.
For Ainsworth, the arrangement is a “win-win-win”: The school can focus its staff elsewhere, students can continue benefiting financially, and a thrift store can remain in a space that has served the community for more than a decade.
The Haven fit the bill.
“Fred and Betty’s is a magical place,” Ainsworth said. “It is a space that brings together people who you wouldn’t have expected into a community that you wouldn’t have expected.”
Preserving some of that magic was important during the handoff. Fred and Betty’s manager Kristen Clark and key members of its staff are staying through the transition—something Ainsworth said was a priority for the school as it searched for a new operator.
The Haven also wants to put its own spin on the store. Home goods and décor will eventually disappear, but Tagre hopes to make room for local vendors and after-hours events—from craft nights to other “wholesome activities” where people can meet outside of downtown SLO’s nightlife scene.
Fast facts
• Friends of El Moro Elfin Forest will hold its annual celebration on Sept. 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Red Barn, 2180 Palisades Ave. in Los Osos. Ecologist Cindy Roessler will discuss local bees and ongoing bumblebee surveys in the Elfin Forest, followed by program updates and the organization’s general meeting. RSVP at elfinforestlososos.org.
• Transitions-Mental Health Association will bring back its Trunks of Treasure fundraiser Sept. 27 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Filipponi Ranch Winery in SLO. Guests can enjoy appetizers and local wine while purchasing keys for a chance to unlock prizes hidden in 10 to 12 themed trunks with proceeds supporting TMHA. For more information visit givebutter.com/tt2026. ∆
Reach Staff Writer Chloë Hodge at chodge@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Sept 3-10, 2026.
