Madonna Plaza Shopping Center

I used to spend my weekends here when I have time. This plaza has a strip of things to do and shop. There’s Ralphs, Starbucks, Bed, Bath and beyond, Khol’s, Big5, Borders, Forever 21, a dollar tree, and many more that are listed.

After becomming familiar with the owners dislike of locally owned businesses, I will make it a point to avoid this entire center. Sorry to the stores that I used to visit, but no more. When your landlord (The Schottenstein Property Group of Ohio) gives local businesses a 30 day notice as soon as they can find a big box replacement tenant, it is crytal clear to the folks of San Luis Obispo that you do not have our community and it’s interests at heart. Feel free to continue your policy, but you can do it without my money.

To a small town girl like me, this is the ONLY place to get cloths or anything else I want. I don’t think I’ve ever been dissatisfied there

Technically, this shopping center is probably more on the «strip mall» side as opposed to a real mall, because here you can exercise your patriotic duty as an American by driving from one store to the other (even when they’re right next to each other) instead of walking. There is a wide variety of both chain and local stores to choose from, such as a department store (Sears), a supermarket, a big-​box bookstore (Borders), a local place called the Crushed Grape, Best Buy, and others.
Basically, if you live in San Luis Obispo and need something, but prefer to avoid downtown because of the inconvenience of walking from one end to the other, this is the alternative for those who actually use a car in their daily lives and are not ashamed of it.

What to do in a city you’re unfamiliar with? Head to the mall. This is a big outdoor mall that holds some of the bigger storefronts like Bed Bath & Beyond and Cost Plus World Market (two of my favorite stores). Big Best Buy, Staples, Ralphs… and lots of small little stores that I’m not familiar with. Finally got to see what Gottschalks was — your basic department store with housewares, makeup, shoes and clothes. Spent half the day here, wandering. It’s a big location. Unless you bring really comfy shoes, you’ll probably drive from one end to the other.