Founded in 1958, the original Coast Gallery spent its early days as a refuge for artists and writers who migrated to Big Sur after World War II. Commonly referred to as “The Bank,” the gallery served as a place for this community to gather and for their artwork to be sold and exhibited.

In 2015, the owner put the gallery up for sale, and in April of 2016, Coast Gallery was purchased by Peter and Merle Mullin. Part-time residents of Big Sur for decades, Peter and Merle would often stop by Coast Gallery during their drives along Highway 1 to admire both the artwork and the breathtaking view this iconic space has to offer. As a collector of cars and artwork himself, Peter took an interest in the gallery from the moment he first encountered it. Together, he and Merle are proud to have ushered Coast Gallery into its third life, renaming it COAST Big Sur and a creating a unique atmosphere that honors the building’s past life while also looking ahead to the possibilities its future might hold.