Tag archives: Montecito Country Mart

Little Alex’s Is Out at Country Mart Despite Community Uproar
By Nick Masuda and Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   October 19, 2021

Just a few weeks after Cava leaving its longtime post on Coast Village Road, another community cornerstone is being shown the door by its landlord, as Little Alex’s has been told it needs to vacate the Montecito Country Mart by November 22. Jim Rosenfield, the retail center’s landlord, delivered the news via a letter, with […]

How to Experience Montecito Like a True Local
By Leslie Westbrook   |   August 12, 2021

If you recently moved into the neighborhood and you want to fit right in, these few tips should assist in the transition from city slicker to Montecitan.  Despite almost a half-century of living here under my belt – and summer forays in my youth with my best friend whose grandparents had a second home in […]

Montecito Mercantile Opens
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   July 15, 2021

Two months after the closure of Read N’ Post in the Montecito Country Mart, the shopping center’s newest store, Montecito Mercantile, has opened, a sister store to owner Carrie Schei’s beloved Salt House Mercantile on Bainbridge Island.  The shop, which is managed and overseen by longtime retailer and merchandiser Kelly Finefrock, has been transformed to […]

‘Craving Community’: Kate McMahon Returns to Coast Village Road
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   May 27, 2021

Local fashion fixture Kate McMahon is back on Coast Village Road, opening a pop-up in Montecito Country Mart to offer her full clothing collection called Covet. McMahon took a multi-year hiatus from the brick-and-mortar retail scene, focusing instead on selling her luxury knitwear — including her famous sweaters — online. “It felt like the right […]

Last Days at Read ‘N Post
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   April 29, 2021

Read ‘N Post at Montecito Country Mart will host an informal all-day “final fling” this Saturday, April 24, with free light refreshments and “a chance for us to say ‘thank you and best wishes always’ to our customers and friends,” said Jan Hendrickson, principal owner of the beloved shop. “Read ‘N Post has had more […]

Read ‘N Post Says Goodbye
By Joanne A Calitri   |   April 15, 2021

For 35 years, Read ‘N Post (RnP) has been our town’s local meeting spot for posting your mail and packages, finding the perfect card for any occasion, stationary supplies, and the largest ongoing racks of real glossy high-end magazines from around the world. Due to unforeseen expenses incurred from our over one-year lockdown and other […]

Easter at Montecito Country Mart
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   April 15, 2021

This past Saturday, Montecito Country Mart hosted a socially-distant photo op with the Easter Bunny, welcoming more than 200 families over the course of the day. County Line Florals created an Easter floral backdrop for the photo moment, and popped up with their 1965 VW Transporter, Betty, with Easter blooms for the day.  All proceeds […]

Read ‘N Post To Close
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   April 8, 2021

Late last week customers at Read ‘N Post were surprised to learn that the Montecito retail landmark, located in Montecito Country Mart, shared plans to close at the end of April. In business in Montecito for nearly 40 years, Read ‘N Post is a favorite among locals who go to peruse the extensive collection of […]

New Stores at Montecito Country Mart
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   February 11, 2021

Two new stores are calling Montecito Country Mart home as business picks up throughout the Mart following the lifting of the state’s stay-at-home order in January. “People are here, they are shopping and eating, all in a safe way,” says Mart rep Kristin Teufel, who introduced us to the new shops earlier this week.  The […]

Montecito Country Mart Welcomes New Stores
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   August 27, 2020

Two new shops have popped up at Montecito Country Mart, just in time for the last few weekends of the summer shopping season. Studio C is a brand-new concept from C Magazine founder and editor Jennifer Hale, who, along with her team, have curated an array of California-made items including ready-to-wear clothing, bathing suits, beauty […]

Letters to the Editor
By Montecito Journal   |   August 6, 2020

The Truth About Kelp I read with interest Mr. Zach Rosen’s article on Chris Goldblatt’s reef project. I am uncertain if Mr. Rosen was obtaining his information from Chris, but his initial statements are inaccurate under any circumstances. First, El Niño events are directly correlated with warm waters and heavy rainfall. Not, “droughts” as he […]

Retail Therapy
By Joanne A Calitri   |   July 30, 2020

The Montecito Country Mart (MCM), located at 1016 Coast Village Road, is home to 21 boutique shops anchored by the Vons grocery store and Union Bank. MCM owner Jim Rosenfield acquired the mall in 2010, reconstructed its original 1960s façade and added outdoor patios to make it an upscale Montecito shopping destination. “I am so […]

Montecito Country Mart Welcomes New Faces
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   December 19, 2019

Two new shops have opened at Montecito Country Mart, just in time for the final push of the holiday shopping season. Matt Albiani and Ron Brand, owners of Mate Gallery, have expanded their offerings into the adjacent space – formerly occupied by Kendall Conrad – opening Mate Men on Thursday, December 12. Mate Men carries […]

Bettina Celebrates 1st Anniversary
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   November 7, 2019

Last week marked the first anniversary in business in Montecito for husband and wife team Brendan Smith and Rachel Greenspan, owners of Bettina in Montecito Country Mart. “It’s been a lot of work, but an overwhelmingly positive experience,” Greenspan told us earlier this week.  Riding on the coattails of the success of their mobile pizza […]

Caffe Luxxe at Montecito Country Mart
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   June 6, 2019

Last month marked the opening of Caffe Luxxe, Montecito’s newest coffee shop located in Montecito Country Mart. Last week we had the opportunity to sit down with co-founder Mark Wain, who, along with his business partner Gary Chau, started the Los Angeles-based chain of artisan coffee shops in 2006.  Wain and Chau met in business […]

Merci Montecito Opens
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   May 23, 2019

Saturday, May 18 marked a grand opening celebration at Merci Montecito, the newest eatery at Montecito Country Mart, located in a portion of the space once home to Xanadu Bakery. Owner and chef Elizabeth Colling had a smaller iteration of the concept, a pop-up called Merci To Go, a few years back in the 168-ft […]

Poppy Marché Boutique Opens in Montecito
By Joanne A Calitri   |   May 23, 2019

Poppy Marché store owners Jenny Belushi and Heather Whitney Rosenfield opened their third store location in Montecito at the Montecito Country Mart on May 17. Heather’s husband, Jim, the owner of the Montecito Country Mart shopping center, was on hand to help with opening day festivities that also included the launching of the Caffe Luxxe […]

Montecito Country Mart News
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   May 16, 2019

Montecito Country Mart has welcomed several new stores and eateries recently, including Caffe Luxxe, an artisanal coffee roaster from Los Angeles. Located in a portion of the space formerly occupied by Xanadu Bakery, the roasting company features Northern Italian-style espresso drinks, coffee, and various pastries. Hosting a grand opening last Saturday, May 11, the location […]

Little Alex’s Celebrates 30 Years
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   April 25, 2019

Next month marks a special anniversary for Coast Village Road’s longest running restaurant: Little Alex’s in Montecito Country Mart marks 30 years in business on May 8. “We’re still the same as we’ve always been, and that’s why we are around thirty years later,” says Lynette Briner, who owns Little Alex’s with husband, Dan. Still […]

Pop-up at Montecito Country Mart
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   July 12, 2018

An Oscar de la Renta pop-up shop is coming to Montecito Country Mart, in the former home of Intermix, which closed last year. The shop will open Thursday, July 19, and will be open until August 26, according to brand representatives.  “Given our partnership with Lotusland and the fact that many of our customers from […]