A new rooftop bar coming to Carpinteria is expected to open in March as the latest addition to the city’s new public market known as Linden Square. 

Arnie’s Bar will be opening upstairs, offering specialty cocktails, local wine and draft beer.

The bar’s owner, Arnie Sturham, brings 20 years of restaurant experience after running a pub and pizzeria in Bainbridge Island, Washington, before moving to Santa Barbara three years ago. 

“I feel very fortunate that the three eateries that are here are so established, and I think they’re a big draw, not only from this local community, but from outside the community, too,” Sturham said. “I’m just thankful to be hooking my cart to their horse.”

Sturham was eager to join the local business scene, looking at several other businesses before a friend at the gym told him about Linden Square. 

Linden Square opened in May, with Tina’s Pizza, Third Window Brewing, Corazon Cocina, and other businesses, along with a bar upstairs with furniture and awnings overlooking Linden Avenue, just waiting for a business to move in. 

One of Linden Square’s owners, Terry Huggins, said they chose Sturham for the bar because of his energy and vision for the space. 

“He’s extremely experienced,” Huggins said. “The guy really knows what he’s doing, and he really knows craft cocktails.”

While Third Window Brewing offers beer and wine, Huggins explained that Arnie’s bar will have the only hard liquor license at Linden Square. 

“Right from the very beginning, I sought to curate tenants that would be complementary to each other and not competitive with each other,” Huggins said. “I did that for a reason. I think it’ll fit in really, really well. I think it’ll attract an additional layer of clientele.”

Customers can expect four draft handles of beer, about 20 primarily local wines, and a menu of 10-12 cocktails and seasonal drinks put together by Trina Armitage. 

Armitage will be the bar manager, bringing her experience from her own business, the Petite Fleet, which is a mobile bar service. 

“​​We’re putting an elevated twist on classic drinks,” Sturham said. “But we’re also not trying to recreate the wheel. We’re trying to keep things as affordable as possible, but we’re also going to have upper-tier spirits.”

The type of liquor license the bar got allows it to sell alcohol without food, but customers will be allowed to bring food that they buy at the other businesses in Linden Square up to the bar. 

However, it also means that anyone below the age of 21 will have to stay downstairs. At first Sturham worried that this would upset families with children, but then he heard from residents that were looking for more child-free environments. 

“​​I think Linden Square is very family friendly, which I love, and this is just going to be slightly different from the service that’s being done down here,” Sturham said. 

Patrons can also expect some live music when they visit Arnie’s Bar, primarily featuring acoustic solo or duo musicians. But Sturham said they still have to figure out a schedule for when they want musicians to play. 

Before the bar can open, Sturham said, they’re waiting for equipment to arrive, need to finish the electrical and inspections, add drywall, tile and lighting, and then move in product. He hopes to open the bar to the public in March.

“There’s still quite a bit left to do, but at least I feel like we’re moving at a good pace now,” Sturham said.