Tag archives: local business

Carlitos Cafe y Cantina, the popular State Street eatery, a tiara’s toss from the Arlington Theatre, is celebrating its 40th anniversary next month. The Mexican restaurant, owned by Montecito residents Carlos and Leslie Lopez-Hollis, is one of the longest-reigning businesses on the ritzy rue. “We saw great potential with the location and knew we could […]

The Belmond El Encanto, after an extensive search, has a new manager in Santa Barbara local resident Colleen Huther. Colleen, who replaces Aussie Shaun O’Bryan, who has returned to the antipodes, has more than three decades of luxury hotel experience with brands such as Marriott and Accor. She is joining the 92-room luxury Riviera hostelry […]

Farmers & Merchants Bank, founded in 1907 and headquartered in Long Beach, is certainly making inroads in our Eden by the Beach. A year and a half ago, the bank – run by Santa Barbara Polo Club players Dan and Henry Walker – opened a trust department on Santa Barbara Street, near the police headquarters, […]

In 1985, an unfamiliar face appeared at a Santa Barbara car dealership and demanded a job as an auto detailer. The man who moved from the San Fernando Valley convinced the owner of his skills and devotion when he donated three days of labor free of charge. Yes, Lynwood “Woody” Robinson landed the job. Then, […]

French culture consistently impresses American culture with art, poetry, literature, theatre, fashion, and architecture; but the French take their sweets and pastries just as seriously as Monet took his paintings. Every four years, France holds a “craftsman competition” called Meilleur Ouvrier de France (“Best Worker in France”). The contest is open to pastry chefs who […]

One of downtown Santa Barbara’s most popular restaurants is coming to Montecito in 2019; Ca’ Dario owner Dario Furlati has signed a lease to take over the space currently occupied by Giovanni’s at 1187 Coast Village Road. Property owner Hank Hurst confirmed the news, saying he is looking forward to having Dario, his team, and […]

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.” […]

Earlier this week, Montecito Deli owner Jeff Rypysc celebrated 17 years in business on Tuesday, September 11. Rypysc closed escrow on the purchase of the business on September 11, 2001, and since then has been feeding Montecito locals and tourists at the casual deli. Rypysc has always attributed his success to two things: his loyal […]

Originating in Japan, the Koi fish symbolizes fervid actions and attitudes of grace and obstinance, ambition, courage, perseverance, rewards such as prosperity, wealth, and happiness. In the Chinese legend, the Koi’s trip upstream, through cascades of water and to the top of a mountain to the Dragon’s Gate, and if the Koi makes the final […]

With our tony town’s main rue, State Street, having a record high of 38 empty storefronts in July, Santa Barbara resident Erica Brown is determined to buck the trend. She is opening her first retail boutique, Dylan Star, inside of Salon U, owned by crimper Michael Romo, at State and Islay. The store is an […]

In an old three-story building on the inner edge of the Funk Zone, a structure made mostly of red concrete bricks, lies a collection of antique, vintage, and modern furniture and decor, local art, handmade jewelry, unique artifacts and pieces acquired from small groups of collectors, artists, and designers, many of them right here in […]

The 1925 earthquake of downtown Santa Barbara cost the city $8 million in damages, an equivalence of less than $114 million in 2018 (Dollar Times). But last January, the Montecito Mudslide nearly doubled the cost of the 20th-century catastrophe with $207 million needed to resurrect the heart of the American Riviera properly. The Santa Barbara […]

Opening to a warm welcome from the community, Renaud’s Patisserie & Bistro softly opened the doors to its newest location in Coast Village Plaza on August 15. Owner Renaud Gonthier sat down with us last week to discuss the new bistro and bakery, which is currently serving breakfast and lunch and will eventually serve dinner […]

Four months after opening for business in April, Frankland’s Crab & Co at the Montecito Inn is closed for modifications, and will reopen in a few weeks with a new concept: Chaplin’s Martini Bar. The new concept will offer guests staying at the hotel, as well as residents and visitors, a sleek lounge serving cocktails […]

After 43 years, Antoinette Boutique in Coast Village Walk has moved! Still in the same shopping center, Antoinette is now located between Occhiali and Sakana, in the space formerly occupied by Dance Fever Studio, which closed last month. “We are thrilled, and it’s a really good move for us,” said longtime manager Marissa Fritz. “It’s […]

The world does not require statistics to depict the unpleasant truth about alcoholism and drug addiction in America. We watch millions of Americans suffer day after day in families and communities and the media: stories of arrests, tragic and untimely deaths, but personal resurrections as well. These stories are why Santa Barbara provides myriad sober […]

Skin Essentials in the upper village is celebrating 20 years in business this month. Owner Julie Phillips, a licensed esthetician, CMA and AICT, worked in the fields of dermatology and plastic surgery before opening her own space in 1998.  The first two years the business was located on Coast Village Circle, but word of mouth […]

One-hundred and seventy years after the Treaty of Guadalupe solidified California as American Territory, the American Riviera remains a heavily-desired U.S. destination. Not just to visit but to live as well.  Sure, the city of some 93,000 people enjoys the comfortable weather on sparkling beaches, celebrities who scour the stores on State Street, and other […]

With Starbucks and American Airlines ditching the use of plastic straws with a view to cleaning up the environment, Santa Barbara dynamic duo Justin and Mindy Mahy couldn’t have chosen a better time to launch KOPU sparkling water, sourced from Justin’s native New Zealand. And rather than the product coming in a plastic bottle, like […]

After being at their Coast Village Road location for 28 years, Montecito UPS Store owner Cris Quinnell has followed through on a personal wish to open a second UPS Store in the upper village. It is nested in the two-story gray house located at 525 San Ysidro Road, Suite D, right next to Hogue & […]