Cuesta College has purchased the former Rite Aid building at 1650 E Grand Ave in Arroyo Grande to establish its first permanent South County campus. The 16,320-square-foot space, acquired from a private party on February 13, will become the community college's third permanent location, supplementing existing sites in San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles.

For decades, Cuesta served South County students through a lease at Arroyo Grande High School. A 2024 plan identified significant barriers, including fuel costs and traffic, that limited access to the main campus. The new storefront location is projected to serve up to 378 full-time in-person students or 700 in a hybrid model, directly addressing those geographic and economic hurdles.

The purchase transforms a vacant retail site into an educational hub after Rite Aid's chain-wide bankruptcy. Broker Austin Jackson noted the building had minimal retail interest, making the college's offer the most viable. College officials are finalizing processes with the city of Arroyo Grande, emphasizing a collaborative approach to expand affordable local education.

This move repurposes commercial real estate to meet regional educational demand. By converting a shuttered pharmacy into a learning center, Cuesta tackles both student access challenges and local vacancy rates, providing a tangible model for community-focused development in San Luis Obispo County.