Montecito Country Mart Updates

Los Angeles-based boutique coffee shop Caffe Luxxe has announced plans to open in Montecito County Mart, in a portion of the space once occupied by Xanadu Bakery near Vons. 

The European-style café was founded in 2006 by friends Mark Wain and Gary Chau, who both left corporate jobs to pursue their dream of opening a local coffee business. The pair sources coffee beans from around the world, forming relationships with farmers and importers who offer sustainable practices and fair pay to farm workers. The beans are hand-roasted in small batches back in Los Angeles and available for retail purchase in addition to espresso and coffee drinks at four café locations: Brentwood, Los Angeles, Malibu, and Brentwood Country Mart. Two new locations, Pacific Palisades and Montecito Country Mart, are set to open later this year. 

Caffe Luxxe has been featured on numerous “Best Of” lists, winning accolades for quality offerings and friendly atmosphere. The Montecito Caffe Luxxe will offer a menu of artisan espresso and coffee drinks, as well as a selection of freshly baked pastries. No word yet on an exact opening date. 

For more information, visit www.caffeluxxe.com. 

Also happening at Montecito Country Mart: through March 31, a pop-up clothing store called the Recovery Free Store will be open daily offering free clothing to fire and mudslide victims. Founded by Montecito resident Berna Kieler, the store, which is organized like a local boutique, features clothing, shoes, and accessories donated by other residents and local clothing stores. The shop, staffed by volunteers, is located in the former home of Intermix, which closed last year. Montecito Country Mart owner James Rosenfeld donated the space to the cause for the entire month of March. (See more about the project from Richard Mineards on page 6.)

Autostrada Pizza owners Rachel Greenspan and Brendan Smith continue their plans to open an all-day Italian bistro and pizzeria called Bettina. The eatery will open at some point in the fall, across from Rori’s Artisanal Creamery, in the space once occupied by Tsunami. Known for their mobile wood-fired pizza oven presence at weddings, festivals, and other events, Greenspan and Smith serve fresh and hot pizza with locally sourced toppings, hand-pulled mozzarella, and organic dough. 

For more information about Autostrada, visit www.autostradapizza.com.