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The COVID-19 pandemic, approaching two years of turmoil, continued to devastate the South Coast’s business environment in 2021, but it didn’t stop several new entrepreneurs from stepping forward and taking risks.
Since 2018, this is the 236th consecutive BizHawk column I’ve written for publication every Thursday, without interruption and with a lot of help from my Noozhawk colleagues.
For the past three years, my Wednesdays and Thursdays have involved dashing about the region looking for new businesses, businesses that are closing and, most importantly, searching for people to talk with about business.
BizHawk is more than a list of comings and goings, kept alive by random tips. This feature involves interviews with real people, with photos, to tell the story of the ever-changing business landscape.
So, if you see me on a Thursday afternoon, with my camera and iPhone, walking into businesses for interviews, that’s what I am doing — and it is one of the most fun parts about the gig.
Some of the area’s most well-known and prominent restaurants and establishments closed in 2021. Among them, CAVA and Little Alex’s in Santa Barbara, near Montecito, Woody’s BBQ in Goleta — all of them with a combined history of nearly 100 years. Although it will remain open, Carpinteria’s The Palms was put on the market.
It’s never easy when businesses shut their doors. Some do it overnight, while others announce to the public and allow them time to grieve. It’s the topsy-turvy nature of owning a restaurant, which can be a volatile path — even before the pandemic.
Even Starbucks Corp. was not immune to closure. The coffee destination for Santa Barbara City Hall and downtown employees, on the corner of State and De la Guerra streets, closed its doors in March. However, Starbucks has three other locations downtown and several on the South Coast.
In fact, coffee continued its growth in 2021.
Leading the list is the expansion of gourmet coffee shop Caje, which opened across from the Arlington Theatre in February, at the site of the former Petros restaurant. It’s a dynamic setting, with a spacious outdoor patio, a place to see and be seen, and for sipping some of the best-tasting coffee in the region.
Later in the year, Caje opened a second shop in an ideal spot, 811 State St., at the site of the former Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, shortly after Starbucks closed across the street. The locations followed the original two stores, in Isla Vista and on Santa Barbara’s Milpas Street.
Another coffee spot, Dune Coffee Roasters, opened a location in Goleta, on Calle Real.
Downtown State Street is still in transition as businesses simultaneously jump ship but also jump on board.
In one of the year’s success stories, Jeannine’s Bakery moved from Figueroa Street to the corner of State and Cabrillo streets in Santa Barbara and became one of the most popular restaurant destinations for locals and tourists.
Alessia Patisserie & Cafe injected even more fuel to Canon Perdido Street, next to Handlebar Coffee. It’s owned by Alessia Guehr, who worked at the Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore after she graduated from Dos Pueblos High School.
(Joshua Molina / Noozhawk photo)
She moved from summer helper to assistant pastry chef, then worked at Bouchon, opened a bakery in the Bay Area, then came back to Santa Barbara to help her father open up the Nook. Her restaurant is a score in Santa Barbara, which has a shortage of good breakfast places.
Among the other openings downtown were 805 Vintage Clothing, Hook & Press Donuts, Athleta, Hollister, Anna Janelle Jewelry, Maison Vintage Home store in Paseo Nuevo, and Crafter’s Library.
There was also the long-awaited opening of Riviera Bar, which opened in the spot of the former Sportsman, next to the alley on Figueroa Street.
In Victoria Court, Crush Bar & Tap, billing itself as Santa Barbara’s first queer bar, opened to people of all identities in June. The spot is owned by the same family that owns the Crushcakes franchise.
For the vegans and vegetarians, new options arrived in the form of Rascal’s vegan restaurant, run by resident chef Dalan Moreno inside the Venus & Furs spot at 18 E. Cota St. Moreno is committed to proving that vegan food can taste as good as food made from animals, without being overpriced. You can’t miss Moreno; he has a large “vegan” tattoo on his neck and spends his days at the restaurant cooking and coming up with new recipes for the converted and convertible.
The Good Plow opened in August in Carpinteria. Much of the food is vegetarian, and all of it is healthy. Items include vegan Korean fried tofu tacos, a tofu poke bowl, and avocado toast. It also sells “The Real Burger,” a grass-fed burger from the San Julian ranch in Buellton, and fish tacos.
Also, chicken wings are apparently the new coffee. Wingstop opened two locations this year, in Santa Barbara’s La Cumbre Plaza and in Isla Vista. That followed the opening of Wingman Rodeo in Old Town Goleta.
Old Town also saw the opening of Centennial Beer Hall at the former site of the Mercury Lounge. The funky vibe of Mercury Lounge is gone, but in its place is a brightly lit, big-time brewery feel, with dozens of drink options.
Also on the beer and wine front, Sevtap Winery opened inside the historic El Centro Building, and the SB Biergarten set up shop in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone.
Among the notable closures in 2021 were Peanuts, a popular store for women and families; Vegan Green-Go near San Roque in Santa Barbara; and the Beachside Bar & Cafe at Goleta Beach. The county has already chosen a new restaurateur to take over the oceanfront space at the park.
2021 also saw the rise of some local entrepreneurs who opened up shops.
Among them, Chad Brown launched AREA 44 Gym in Old Town Goleta. Goodland Yoga in Goleta was opened by Sathya and Brian Fennell. Mr. B Restaurant opened in La Cumbre Plaza, specializing in Middle Eastern food. 4 Eggs + Pizza opened in Victoria Court in downtown Santa Barbara, and Tondi Gelato opened in Paseo Nuevo in downtown Santa Barbara.
— Noozhawk staff writer Joshua Molina can be reached at jmolina@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
