Here’s the Scoop to Sell

Bob and Ellie Patterson, owners of Here’s the Scoop on Coast Village Road, announced publicly this week that they are actively seeking new owners for their beloved gelato and sorbet shop. “This is a bittersweet decision for us,” Ellie said, “As we have never felt more connected to the community than we do right now.”

The Pattersons have owned the shop for more than 14 years, originally opening in a different space at 1187 Coast Village Road in April 2004. The couple, who found themselves looking for a new chapter after the economic downturn impacted their high-tech careers, learned the art of making gelato and sorbet at domestic trade shows, followed by a long course in Milan. The Pattersons set out to open a shop dedicated to an excellent product, supportive of local produce purveyors and farmers. “We were doing the ‘farm-to-table’ thing before it was trendy!” Ellie laughed. The couple produces a variety of staple flavors, along with an array of seasonal offerings. They also make custom flavors for weddings and events, and are invited annually to participate in local school carnivals at Montecito Union School and Crane, at Earth Day, and at various other community happenings.

Business has steadily increased over the years, and Bob and Ellie have become even more entrenched in the community, a notion that Ellie says is her proudest accomplishment. She recounts watching hundreds of local kids grow up over the years, including her own employees, three of whom have been married with Ellie and Bob in attendance. The sense of community deepened earlier this year, when Coast Village Road was shut down for more than two weeks following the January 9 debris flow. Here’s the Scoop was the first food establishment to reopen and helped welcome back residents when evacuations were lifted. 

The shop was recognized by country music star Brad Paisley, a longtime customer who made mention of it on Ellen DeGeneres’s talk show when discussing the impact of the mudslide on Montecito. Months later, Paisley encouraged his fans to meet him at Here’s the Scoop the weekend of his benefit concert, bringing more attention to the business and Coast Village Road. “It was really incredible, and we still have people stopping in who saw all the press about us,” Ellie said. This summer, business has been strong, and the greater sense of community is palpable, said Bob. 

The Pattersons say their ideal buyer is someone who wants to become entrenched in the community, and carry on the traditions of the shop, including the costume contest the Pattersons host each year on Halloween, and the wall of kids’ pictures. The shop is equipped and health department-approved for the in-house production of the gelato and sorbet; the sale of the business includes the equipment, as well as hands-on training from Bob and Ellie to learn how to perfect the product. The Pattersons surmise that new restaurants in the building – Renaud’s, Kao Khang, and Ca’ Dario – as well as the opening of the Miramar in January, will only serve to boost business. Interested buyers should reach out to business broker Matt Olufs of Compass First, at (805) 886-2919. 

Ellie and Bob say the decision to sell is based on one thing: wanting to spend more time with their grandsons, Jack (3) and Finn (1). “We are missing out on too much and we need to be there,” Ellie says. The couple plans on moving to Ohio to be closer to the kids as well as their only daughter, Alex. “It’s just time,” Ellie said.