For $60, you can rest your head in Santa Barbara.
The Santa Barbara Beach Hostel opened this week at 134 Chapala St.
“It’s a beautiful city,” said owner James Black, co-founder and CEO of International Travelers House. “It’s an iconic spot.”
The hostel, across the street from the train tracks and near the Santa Barbara Amtrak Station, had been an abandoned building for several years, Black said. He and his partners purchased the space and rehabbed it into a hostel, which it had been a decade prior.
Black said the hostel is a great option for backpackers and international travelers and families.
The rooms include multiple beds for females or mixed rooms, shared bathrooms, showers, lockers, washer and dryer. Breakfast is included along with free WiFi.
The starting rate for the shared rooms is about $60, while the private rooms start at $200.
“We are here to create a great experience for travelers,” said David Gonzalez, managing partner.
“You actually get to meet a lot more people if you get to stay in a hostel,” Gonzalez said. “Our common areas are combined. Everyone gets to use them. You get to meet a lot more people and you get to feel like you are part of the city and not just having a place to sleep. You are almost staying in a home, with other travelers.”
The company has hostel locations in San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles and other destinations in California and Mexico.
Bastille Weekend at Bouchon
One of Santa Barbara’s tastiest restaurants, bouchon, is celebrating its 25th anniversary from July 14-16, over Bastille Weekend, which celebrates the birth of the French revolution.
“bouchon is proud to have played an instrumental role in establishing and elevating the region’s reputation as a world-class culinary destination,” public relations representative Jennifer Zacharias said in a statement.
Bouchon opened at 9 W. Victoria St. on Bastille Day, July 14, in 1998.
“It is an honor and truly rewarding to celebrate 25 years of bouchon,” said owner Mitchell Sjerven. “Our journey is also a story of enduring relationships. From working side-by-side with my wife Amy to having both of my daughters, Madeline and Caroline, as part of the restaurant’s team, I cherish these familial ties.
“Notably, Roberto Miguel, a loyal employee since the restaurant’s inception, stands as a testament to our close-knit bouchon community.”
Click here to reserve a spot.
Goleta 7-Eleven Disappears
They must have sold a lot of Slurpees on Tuesday.
The popular 7-Eleven store at 7443 Hollister Ave. has boarded up its windows and doors and slapped a lock and key on the front.
It’s closed. A Noozhawk reporter and his daughter peeked through the narrow cracks in the wood, however, and saw that the store is still fully stocked with food and snacks, so it appears possible the store will open its doors again.
The 7-Eleven trash can remains out front.
An email to the corporate office got no response. Fortunately, there are two other 7-Elevens in the area, including one just on the other side of Highway 101 and another in Old Town Goleta.
Wylde Works Starts GoFundMe
Mead and hard kombucha brewery Wylde Works owners are asking the public to help them stay in business. At 609 State St., the spot ferments beverages with fresh, local, wild honey.
“It’s been a miracle, this community, the music, the arts, poetry, story, the dispatch, the crazy drinks, the sincere genuine connections,” the company said on its GoFundMe page. “The kindness. The miracle was you. You made Wylde Works what it is. Now we need another kind of a miracle, to stay in business, to keep the dream alive, to keep doing what we’ve been doing.”
The GoFundMe message states that if Wylde Works can turn the corner, the company will build bonds “for a long time, through self-expression and craftsmanship.”
Buzz Buzz Goes the Bee
Santa Barbara Hives has announced the closing of its location at 3328 State St. The company plans to move online.
“This step represents an exciting moment as they pivot to focusing on the production and distribution of their locally handmade body and wellness products online and in local retail stores,” the company said in a press release. “They are grateful to have occupied such a beautiful space and to have connected with our local community.”
People are invited to purchase excess inventory and fixtures at a discounted price until July 30 at the State Street location. The store’s hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Coral Casino Club Gets Top Chef
Seven Michelin star chef and restaurateur Thomas Keller will oversee all food and beverage operations at the Coral Casino Beach & Cabana Club, owner Ty Warner announced on Thursday.
“I’m excited to be part of the Coral Casino story,” Keller said in a statement. “It’s an honor to be invited to join this legendary California destination with its rich history. We look forward to introducing our cuisine to the community and make great memories for them.”
The news release states that the Coral Casino operation and design teams will soon transform the Coral Café, Fins, Tydes restaurant, and La Pacifica to match the brand and inspiration of Keller’s Thomas Keller Restaurant Group.
The chef news comes the same week that the county Board of Supervisors approved the private club’s plans to make the Tydes restaurant open to the public. The club is at 1281 Channel Drive in Montecito.
Air Pollution Control District Offers Trade-ins
Commercial landscape businesses, public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and schools can trade in gasoline- or diesel-powered landscaping equipment and receive vouchers to purchase electric-powered equipment.
The APCD is accepting applications now, and funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis. As part of the program, a like-for-like piece of gasoline- or diesel landscape equipment must be scrapped for each piece of electric equipment purchased.
It’s the third year of the Landscape Equipment Electrification Fund (LEEF) program. Eligible groups can receive up to:
- $700 for chainsaws, trimmers, edgers, and brush-cutters
- $1,400 for leaf blowers and vacuums
- $1,500 for walk-behind lawn mowers
- $15,000 for ride-on and stand/sit mowers
People interested can apply by clicking here.
APCD is hosting an equipment demonstration day on July 19 at San Marcos High School, 4750 Hollister Ave. Commercial landscape equipment operators interested in attending the demonstration day on July 19 are encouraged to RSVP. They can RSVP and find more event information on APCD’s website: https://www.ourair.org/leefprogram/.
