Sign of the Times: Rob Rossi on the Fremont Theatre and Whether the Iconic Sign Has to Come Down

March 6, 2026 Rob Rossi is Up+Adam Sponsored by PortabidetThe Fremont Theatre is more than a building in downtown San Luis Obispo. It is a landmark layered with memories. First dates. Film Festival nights. Legendary concerts under glowing neon. And lately it has been the subject of one big question echoing across town: what is going on with the Fremont?After a powerful winter storm knocked a portion of the historic sign loose, the iconic 1940 art deco theater was temporarily closed while engineers evaluate the structure and determine the safest path forward. The moment immediately sparked concern across the community, and according to longtime owner Rob Rossi, he could not go anywhere in town without someone asking about it.So he reached out.In this episode of Up+Adam, developer, architect, and visionary Rob Rossi joins Adam Montiel to talk openly about the current state of the Fremont Theatre. Rossi explains what actually fell during the storm, what engineers are discovering inside the 80+ year old structure, what restoration might look like, and why preserving the historic character of the building matters so much to him and the community.They also talk about the Fremont’s history, why the building has been such an important cultural anchor for downtown San Luis Obispo, and what reopening night might feel like when the marquee lights up again.For Rossi, the goal is simple: make it safe, restore what makes it special, and make sure the Fremont Theatre continues to serve the community for the next hundred years.• Learn more about the Fremont Theatre: https://www.fremontslo.com*********PORTABIDET: UP+ADAM IS AN OFFICIAL SPOKESPERSON FOR PORTABIDET - USE THIS LINK FOR UP+ADAM LISTENERS TO LEARN MORE AND GET YOURS!*Timbre Event with Cal Poly EIM Students Info HEREListen to Up+Adam with Adam Montiel:Official Website: adammontiel.comApple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple PodcastsSpotify: Up+Adam on SpotifyiHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadioYouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music********CHECK OUT OUR WOODS HUMANE PET OF THE WEEK!********ADAM’S TEDX VIDEO IS HERE!********FOLLOW ADAM ON INSTAGRAM*********Sincere Thanks to the current supporters of Up + Adam. Please take a moment and visit them and thank them for supporting local broadcasting, and valuing what we do here. Thank you for supporting them!Life ElementsCity of SLOWoodsHumaneSocietyTin City DistilleryOriginal Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner CollectiveMoonshiner on Spotify HEREPlease Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com©2026 Up+Adam with Adam Montiel / LoBro Studios, All Rights Reserved.