A meaty piece of Solvang has landed in the Santa Barbara Public Market.

The highly anticipated Que – West Coast BBQ fired up its smokers last week at 38 W. Victoria St. 

Joe Padilla, chief operating officer, said fans of the barbecue were tracking down the restaurant’s opening day at the market. 

He added that since Que took over the stall, the other restaurants have been supportive and positive.

“If we needed a hand, they’d lend a hand,” he said. 

Que is a branch of the American smokehouse Whiskey N’ Rye in Solvang. 

However, the Santa Barbara location strives to be a fast-casual eatery without the extensive whiskey selection of the Solvang restaurant, according to Bryan Aceves, corporate executive chef.

The menu offers fast-to-make options such as sandwiches, burgers and, of course, smoked meats. 

Aceves said his favorite is the barbecue chicken sandwich with tomato jam, arugula and basil aioli. 

Santa Maria Walmart Stores Get Interior Facelifts

Two Santa Maria Walmart stores underwent renovations to reinvent the shopping experience so that it’s centered on the customers.

Walmart Neighborhood Markets at 500 S. Blosser Road and 2240 S. Bradley Road hosted a ribbon-cutting last Friday to show off their renovations. 

Improvements to the stores included new flooring, fixtures, paint and signage, an expanded online pickup and delivery area, broader product selection, renovated restrooms and an upgraded pharmacy center.

“These renovations have made our Santa Maria Neighborhood Market feel brand new, and we’re thrilled for our customers to see the changes,” said Karen Soto, store manager at the Walmart on South Blosser Road.

In celebration of the store makeover, both locations donated thousands of dollars in grants to local nonprofit organizations. 

Visit Santa Barbara Reports Steady Occupancy for Local Hotels 

Hotels on the Santa Barbara South Coast are reporting no significant changes in occupancy from 2024. 

However, there was one increase: room rates.

Average daily rates increased more than 2%, leaving the average room to cost around $359, according to data provided to Visit Santa Barbara by STR, an independent hospitality data analytics company. 

From September to November, occupancy was 71.4% slightly below the prior year, according to a Visit Santa Barbara statement. 

The report comes after some Santa Barbara County hotels and tourism organizations reported seeing fewer international travelers and more in-state tourists.

November was the strongest of the fall months, “outperforming most cities in its competitive set,” the statement added. 

Monte’s Takes Over Former Bar Lou Space 

Just last Friday, French restaurant Bar Lou in Montecito shuttered its doors.

However, a new tenant, Monte’s, was quick to announce its move to the restaurant space at 1198 Coast Village Road.

A “casual and community-driven” restaurant, Monte’s is set to open in February with a menu boasting local produce from Rincon Hill Farm in Carpinteria. 

Endwell Hospitality, which operates Monte’s, confirmed the move on social media on Monday.