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Lower downtown Santa Barbara is home to a new and creative venue.
Created by entrepreneur Jacob Tell, LoDo Studios offers full-scale production areas for photo and video shoots, as well as a professional recording studio for voiceovers and podcast content.
Tell, owner of marketing agency Oniracom, lauched the business earlier this year. Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, companies and nonprofit organizations were aching for a return to parties, gathering and special events. LoDo Studios offers the space in its urban outdoor area at 216 E. Gutierrez St. The event area encompasses about 5,000 square feet of usable space for events of any size.
Among the groups that have rented the venue include the Green Business Network, the Isla Vista Youth Projects, the Environmental Defense Center, Los Padres ForestWatch, the Santa Barbara Foundation and the Santa Barbara Solstice Parade. The space also has hosted music events for local record label We’Wey Records and Sofar Sounds and comedy nights in association with Don’t Tell Comedy, according to a news release.
“Real estate comes at a premium in Santa Barbara, and small- and medium-sized businesses don’t often have budgets that allow them a high-cost production or event space,” Tell said. “Not only are we reasonably priced, but we have gear and talented team members ready to collaborate with Santa Barbara’s community.”
Tell said that before COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were lifted, nonprofit organizations were unable to run their in-person galas but still needed to raise their annual funds.
“They turned to livestream technology,” Tell said, “and with our talented livestream team, we ended up hosting over 30 nonprofit fundraising livestream events from our studio space.”
Tell created Oniracom, a digital marketing agency whose clients include singer-songwriter Jack Johnson, as well companies Spotify, AEG, NPR, Universal and others.
The next big event at LoDo Studios is the Santa Barbara Solstice Foundation and its “Get on Board 2023” event on Oct. 15 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The event is free and brings together local artists and community members.
Santa Barbara Mansion for Sale
A Hope Ranch home just hit the market for $22.5 million.
The six-bedroom, six-bathroom home spans 6,000 square feet with large windows that capture the site’s “stunning views of both mountains and ocean,” according to a news release.
The home is on nearly 5.5 acres and was listed by Randy Solakian Estates Group, a team affiliated with the Montecito office of Coldwell Banker Realty.
Located at 4475 Via Abrigada in Santa Barbara, the Cape Cod-style home was designed by Royal Barry Wills Associates, a Boston-based architect who was widely considered to be the master of the Cape Cod Revival style, according to a news release.
“On two legal parcels in the prime Hope Ranch location, this truly exceptional property opens north and south to breathtaking ocean, island and mountain views,” Solakian said. “This property offers unlimited potential with abundant room for horses, gardens, accessory dwelling unit or a full second home on the lower parcel with separate private drive.”
The home has a gated driveway and motor court and includes a single-level home, a lighted tennis court, garages for six cars, and a detached guest quarters/office with a half bathroom.
To view the home, contact Randy Solakian Estates Group at 805.886.6000 or partners@montecitoestates.com.
Brass Bear Brewing Moving Into Le Cafe Stella Spot
Brass Bear Brewing Co. is apparently going into the space occupied by Le Cafe Stella, 3302 McCaw Ave. in Santa Barbara.
The website SitelineSB.com reported that Brass Bear Brewing was going in and posted a photo of the “Public Notice of Application Change for Ownership Change.”
Brass Bear Brewing has another place in the Funk Zone, at 28 Anacapa St., Suite E.
Montecito Collective Opens in Paseo Nuevo
Montecito Collective, a women’s clothing store, has opened a second shop at 205 Paseo Nuevo Mall, the site of the old See’s Candies.
The company’s “goal and motto is to reinforce true beauty, while discouraging the unrealistic beauty standards society has set.”
“Montecito Collective is made for all to feel included and beautiful with who you are, exactly as you are. We are not just a clothing line, but a lifestyle,” the company states on its website.
— 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.
