Truck Crashes Into Arroyo Grande Pizza Restaurant

Owners plan to reopen after structural damage to storefront

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The owners of Palo Mesa Wood Fired Pizza in Arroyo Grande, California say they don't know how long they'll be closed after a truck crashed into the front of their restaurant, but they plan to return. The crash caused significant damage to the exterior, narrowly missing the gas line, but minimal damage inside. The owners have a special connection to the location, as it was previously owned by their "adopted grandpa" who built the space in the 1950s.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the unpredictable nature of vehicle crashes and the potential for serious damage, even when no one is injured. It also showcases the resilience of small business owners who are determined to rebuild and return to serving their community.

The details

On Monday, a truck crashed into the front window of Palo Mesa Wood Fired Pizza in Arroyo Grande, California, causing significant damage to the exterior of the building. The owners, Kelly Stevens and her family, say the crash narrowly missed the restaurant's gas line by inches. While the interior sustained minimal damage, with only a small dent in one wall, the exterior structural wall was badly damaged. The city is now working with a structural engineer and architect to assess the repairs needed.

  • The crash occurred on Monday, March 4, 2026.
  • Kelly Stevens was in the restaurant just 5 minutes before the crash happened.

The players

Kelly Stevens

The owner of Palo Mesa Wood Fired Pizza, who was in the restaurant just minutes before the crash occurred.

Ken Craig

The 100-year-old man who built the space that now houses Palo Mesa Wood Fired Pizza in the 1950s, when it was his flower shop. He is considered the "adopted grandpa" of the Stevens family.

Eileen Wagner

A customer who visited the restaurant the day after the crash to see the damage, noting that it could have been a "real disaster" if the truck had hit the gas line.

Arroyo Grande Police Department

The local law enforcement agency investigating the cause of the crash.

Palo Mesa Pizza

The pizza restaurant chain that owns the Arroyo Grande location, which has four other locations in San Luis Obispo County that remain open.

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What they’re saying

“I was just here and I went to go home just five minutes away. As soon as I got home, I got a call.”

— Kelly Stevens, Owner, Palo Mesa Wood Fired Pizza (ksby.com)

“That could have been a real disaster if it got any closer to the gas line.”

— Eileen Wagner (ksby.com)

“When it came up to sell, we just knew that we wanted to be here. We opened our first wood fired spot here and it was just amazing to be able to be here full circle after grandpa.”

— Kelly Stevens, Owner, Palo Mesa Wood Fired Pizza (ksby.com)

What’s next

The Arroyo Grande Police Department is still investigating the cause of the crash, and the city is working with a structural engineer and architect to assess the repairs needed to the building.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the unpredictable risks small businesses face, even when no one is injured. However, the owners' determination to rebuild and return to serving their community, along with the support of longtime customers, demonstrates the resilience of local enterprises in the face of adversity.