The newly finished Five Guys has made its home in SLO, near local student housing.
Photo by Steven Holguin/Cuestonian

By Holly Walsh

Life & Culture Editor

Students, elders, and families alike gathered in packs to attend the grand opening of burger chain Five Guys on March 9.

Five Guys opened their new location on Foothill Boulevard, which has become the hub for student housing in San Luis Obispo.

Cal Poly students Ryan Staples and Robby Grangola were particularly excited.

“I can’t describe how excited I am, I came everyday they were supposed to be open and I’m ready,” Staples said.

Staples is from Colorado, where they have Five Guys locations everywhere, and says “it’s nice to have a little taste of home.”

Foothill Boulevard consists of major student housing complexes which include The SLO Living, Mustang Village, Valencia Student Apartments on Ramona, and now 22 Chorro St which opens in Sep. 2018.

With the increase of student housing on Foothill, there is a higher demand for food chains.

Grangola recognizes this and loves that there is a new place close to home to grab a burger.

“There’s not a lot of good burger places nearby and I love Five Guys, The Habit [another burger chain in downtown SLO] is too far and [it’s hard] to find parking, here it’s an easy drive and easy to park,” Staples said.

In addition to Five Guys, the latest restaurants to have opened on Foothill Boulevard have been Milestone Tavern and Blaze Pizza in May 2016, Deli Delicious in Oct. 2016, Pokirito in Jan. 2017, and Scout Coffee in Aug. 2017.