Tourists looking for the cute chicks at the California beaches need look no
further than the Village of Arroyo Grande, where you'll hear some sweet
crowing from the little honeys roaming the streets. For longer than anyone
can remember (according to an employee at the Arroyo Grande City Manager's
office), there have been chickens and roosters wandering loose around the
quaint village on the Central California coast.
Never mind
that a few miles south in Nipomo several men were arrested for cultivating
roosters for cockfighting. It was no small operation, according to press
reports. But in Arroyo Grande, villagers frown upon ornery birds that act
like bullies―they
get "the boot" if they misbehave.
"If a rooster gets rowdy and tries to
attack visitors, we have to take care of the problem," said the city
employee who did not want to give her name, but was willing to discuss what
she knew. She said that roosters are welcomed in town, but they have to act
nice with guests. They are not allowed to terrorize, attack or challenge you
to a dual for sidewalk rights.
As I wandered
the village in search of roosters, I noticed them everywhere. Chicken
sandwiches and dishes were on the menu at practically every restaurant on
Grant Street. (Word on the street is that these menu items are shipped or
trucked in--they are not the village kin.) As I stood outside a restaurant
favorite where a variety of chicken wraps are sold, Branch Street Deli, I
noticed several roosters crossing the street in front of City Hall. All the
cars stopped and waited for the strutters to bustle their feathers and get
across the busy thoroughfare. Although fowl out-of-towners don't get much
respect, it's apparent that the local roosters rule!
At nearly
every boutique, home furnishings or antiques store, I discovered porcelain,
plastic, ceramic or cloth rooster and chicken decor. From statues to
dishcloths, postcards to cookie jars, a colorful icon of Arroyo Grande was
embossed, hand-painted or sewn into products ranging from kitchenware to
souvenirs.
When visiting
the Central Coast, take time to stop and say hello to the roosters and
chickens in Arroyo Grande Village. You'll usually find them near the Village
Green Swinging Bridge next to the public parking lot behind Grant Street.
And while there, take time to smell the roses, too. They are located next to
the bridge and are in bloom the majority of the year.
For a
fantastic California chicken celebration, visit,
Fair Oaks Chicken Festival
