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The Penny is a unique, urban event venue featuring an open floor-plan with an industrial indoor space + outdoor courtyard.
Available for weddings, receptions, parties, corporate events, photo shoots, production and workshops, The Penny offers flexible rental availability and freedom to choose your own team of vendors. San Luis Obispo's only large, mixed-use event space of its kind, The Penny's central location offers walk-ability to all of downtown's best new hotels, restaurants and nightlife.
The Lowdown
Type
Banquet Hall / Event FacilityHistoric BuildingLoft / Warehouse Building
Views
CityscapeCourtyardSkylineStreet
Style
Bohemian
Eclectic
Industrial
Modern
Urban
Best type of Celebrations

Venue Setting

Situated in the heart of downtown San Luis Obispo, The Penny is a unique, urban event venue featuring an open floor-plan with an industrial indoor space + outdoor courtyard. Available for weddings, receptions, parties, corporate events, photo shoots, production and workshops, The Penny offers flexible rental availability and freedom to choose your own team of vendors. San Luis Obispo's only large, mixed-use event space of its kind, The Penny's central location offers walk-ability to all of downtown's best new hotels, restaurants and nightlife. Owners, Tinker Tin Trailer Co and Sidecar Cocktail Co, have combined their event expertise, love for preserving storied history, and a sharp eye for design to create a unique space and superior guest experience.

Capacity

Seated
125
Buffet
N/A
Standing
300
Fees
(Prices listed here are estimates only & are subject to change)
Price range

Does this include catering fees?

No

Additional charges

Additional required fees may apply depending upon headcount, add on services booked, event logistics, etc. Surcharges may include: security fee, site management fee, janitorial fee, taxes, etc

Insurance

Additional Insurance Is Required To Host An Event At This Venue

Connect
Call Venue
Event Logistics and Amenities
(Essential event logistics and amenities to ensure a seamless and memorable experience for you gathering)
Celebrations hosted here since
2019
Curfew
10 PM
Venue spaces
Indoor & Outdoor Venue Spaces Available
Catering
Client Can Select The Caterer Of Their Choice
Alcohol
Provided By Venue For Fee – You Must Use The Venue For All Alcohol Services
BYO Permitted – You Can Bring Your Own Alcohol
Licensed Server Is Required
Music
Indoors & Outdoors
Smoking
Non-smoking Venue
Eco/Green Events
Yes
Pet-Friendly Events
Yes
Kid Friendly Events
Yes
Handicap Accessible
Yes
Amenities
  • A/V Equipment
  • Street Parking
  • Wifi
  • Dining Chairs
  • Dining Tables
  • Onsite Restrooms
Venue Features
The scene:
Constructed in the 1930’s to house a blacksmith shop, the building's historic aesthetic showcases original architecture, exposed brick, and industrial finishes with modern fixtures and decor. Its name, The Penny, is a nod to the craftsmanship that has taken place within these walls for close to a century. Situated in the heart of downtown San Luis Obispo, The Penny boasts privacy and seclusion in both its indoor and outdoor spaces all while being only steps away from bustling hotels, restaurants, and bustling nightlife.

Indoors guests are greeted with warmth and texture by original hollow clay brick walls, high ceilings showcasing beautifully weathered beams, and beautiful natural light pouring through leaded glass windows. Meticulously designed modern bathrooms feature hand-poured terrazzo tiles in shades of blush for the ladies, and matte black and emerald touches for the men.

The outdoor patio beckons from an all-glass roll-up door, inviting the outside in. Upon entering the patio an eclectic environment awaits with both modern landscaping and fencing, lush greenery walls, and an original 1930's barn backdrop. Strung bistro lights illuminate the surrounding vibrant urban cityscape views.
Design:

The Penny is a unique, urban event venue featuring an open floor-plan with an industrial indoor space + outdoor courtyard. The historic building was constructed in the 1930's as a blacksmith shop and we chose to preserve its original brick walls, beams and many other historical characteristics to maintain the look and character of the original build.

Standout venue features:
The Penny SLO is the only urban industrial event space of its kind in downtown San Luis Obispo. It's combined modern design elements and historical characteristics, paired with its walking distance to San Luis Obispo's boutique hotels and restaurants makes it extremely unique. Guests also get the combined event knowledge brought in by The Penny's sister companies, Sidecar Cocktail Co. & Tinker Tin Trailer Co. who both specialize in superior event industry services with an eye for style and design.
Extra perks:
Penny Venue rentals include exclusive access to sister companies Sidecar Cocktail Co. craft cocktail catering services + exclusive access to Tinker Tin Trailer Co. rental upgrades like the open-air photobooth + Sioux Tipi lounges and more. Venue rentals also include tables + chairs for up to 50 guests, back patio bistro lighting, a historic barn backdrop for outdoor ceremonies, mobile bar top, and unique and eclectic design and lounge elements throughout.
Food Restaurants, Cafes, Bars, Lounges
This section provides insights into our diverse culinary and social offerings.

The Penny is pleased to offer fully licensed, insured and highly experienced bar services through Sidecar Cocktail Co, the Penny's sister company. Sidecar Cocktail Co’s brick and mortar restaurant has become the Central Coast’s go-to destination for high-quality craft cocktails presented with a genuine spirit of service. Over the past 5 years, Sidecar’s cocktail catering branch has serviced hundreds of events on the Central Coast with notable travels to Palm Springs, Los Angeles and Heart Castle. Sidecar has developed exclusive packages and pricing for The Penny clientele. Packages range from simple beer and wine staffing services to more complex, full-service craft cocktail experiences. As The Penny's in-house bar service, Sidecar Cocktail Co offers a seamless and elevated experience for clients and guests alike.

Venue matched with reports
Weddings
From the Desert to the Coast: Central California’s Best Wedding Venues
California’s wedding venues are legendary, bringing forth visions of seaside celebrations, golden rolling hills, and charming wineries. San Diego is a fan favorite for laid back beachy bashes, the Los Angeles area draws both the glam and trendsetting crowds, and the Bay Area is a go-to for elegant affairs in natural settings. But what about the 400 miles in between northern and southern California?  Central California is home to a wealth of wedding venues ranging from wineries in Paso Robles to oceanfront hotels in Big Sur to hidden amphitheaters in the Santa Cruz mountains. Today we’re exploring everything in between the west coast’s biggest cities, so come along as we uncover central California’s most beautiful wedding venues. Reporter: Heather Ash
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From the Sea to Wineries: San Luis Obispo County's Best Wedding Venues
Though you’re just a couple hours north of LA in San Luis Obispo County, it feels like you’ve left urban chaos and entered some alternate universe where wandering through walnut groves, apple orchards and malbec vines is all just part of a normal day. The scenery here is stunning, marked by rolling meadows and distant mountains, and you’ll find there’s a number of incredible local wineries and hidden vineyards in the mix. This guide takes you through the best of the wedding sites we know, including private estates, sprawling ranches and rustic barns. Whether you’re planning a secret garden wedding with a tiny guest list or a big soiree that requires a mix of indoor and outdoor space, we’ve got your SLO wedding venue sorted. Reporter: Alyssa Brown | Venue: Greengate Ranch 
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Gatherings
2019's Hottest New Openings Across California
We’ve gathered intel from far and wide, using the best of our TVR abilities to discover 43 of California's hottest new venues, hotels, restaurants and cafés that have opened from last spring till now, and some that are soon to swing their doors open too. You might find hotels in your own neighborhood you had no idea existed. You might even find a few places you’ve been busting at the seams to host an event with. There's a wedding and event venue in a redwood forest. There's a new hotel glampsite in Yosemite. There's plenty of new restaurants embracing color and even more cafés that look more like your dream kitchen than a coffee spot.  No matter the size of your gathering – from tea for two to a farm for five hundred – there's something on this list in California to fit your next event, big or small.  See 2019's Hottest New Openings Across the Globe →
Read roundup
Gatherings
2019’s Hottest New Venue Openings Across the Globe
We’ve gathered intel from far and wide, using the best of our TVR abilities to discover 77 venues that have opened around the world from last spring till now, and some that are soon to swing their doors open too. You might find an urban winery in your city. You might find hotels in your own neighborhood you had no idea existed. You might even find a few places you’ve been busting at the seams to host an event with. If the sheer quantity of venues on this list is any indication of a worldwide desire to connect, gather and celebrate just about anything, consider us impressed. There’s a beachside barn in Australia where you can host an environmentally conscious wedding with lodging for all your guests. There’s an old church in New Orleans filled with relics that doubles as an incredible photography and styling workshop space. There’s a new hotel in downtown Portland that’s killing it by celebrating the head chef’s Texan roots. There’s even a cute little hideaway in the countryside of Idaho where the sweetest family of all time is ready and waiting to make your wedding dreams come true. Whatever kind of venue you’re on the hunt for, we sure hope you find it in the list below. See all of 2019's Hottest New Openings Across the Globe → Reporter: Alyssa Brown
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The Penny
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