Phil Collins’ “Take Me Home” classic hit played over the speakers at Derf’s Cafe on Thursday afternoon.

The moody end-of-an-era song was fitting, as Derf’s Cafe is experiencing its final days.

The restaurant, with its rounded outdoor patio, on the corner of Mission and De la Vina streets in Santa Barbara, is closing within two weeks, owner Kent Storey said, adding that for 47 years it has served food, drink and joy to Santa Barbara.

“I’m heartbroken,” Storey told Noozhawk.

The restaurant must close, he said, because he is getting evicted. Storey said he was unable to negotiate a new deal with the property owner, adding that he agreed to pay additional rent but was asked to sell his liquor license to the property owner, and then lease it back from them, and he opted against doing that.

Storey moved to Santa Barbara from Michigan and found Derf’s through a basketball game connection.

He first came to Santa Barbara as a contractor in the late 1980s. He couldn’t find a place to play basketball. He met a guy at Joe’s Cafe, who told him about a pickup game at St. Mary’s in the hills above Santa Barbara. A couple of weeks later, he joined a group of guys who used to eat and drink at Derf’s after the games.

After a couple of years of contracting, playing basketball and stopping at Derf’s, he heard it was for sale.

“Dean Derflinger was sitting here in the morning doing his crossword puzzle, and I said, ‘Dean, I hear you are thinking about selling the place,'” Storey said. “Two months later, I owned it.”

That was 1994. Tim Derflinger started the restaurant in 1977. Dean Derflinger took it over in 1980.

Among the longtime employees is chef Guillermo Angel Nunez who is, as Storey put it, “the guy who does everything.”

“I want to thank all my loyal customers who have been coming all these years and these past few days,” Nunez said as he patted his heart. “We will see you all somewhere.”

Since he is keeping his liquor license, Storey said he hopes to open a new restaurant someday.

“I have looked the past few months,” he said. “There are a lot of empty places. Rents are all real high. I am going take all the signage and everything and take the name.”

The restaurant, which has a full bar and serves salads, sandwiches, burgers, fries and a variety of classic American foods, is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. for “a couple more weeks,” according to Storey.

New Santa Barbara Airport Flights

Delta Air Lines plans to launch a new daily service to Atlanta and twice-daily service to Salt Lake City from the Santa Barbara Airport beginning Friday.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Delta Air Lines to Santa Barbara,” Kathy Janega-Dykes, president/CEO of Visit Santa Barbara, said in a news release. “Delta will invigorate the Santa Barbara South Coast by stimulating tourism, providing a welcome economic boost to our local community.” 

The nonstop service to Atlanta represents the farthest distance ever offered by a commercial airline from the Santa Barbara Airport, according to the news release.

Daily flights to Atlanta will depart Santa Barbara at 7:35 a.m. with a return flight from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Santa Barbara at 7:25 p.m. The Salt Lake City service will be offered twice daily, departing Santa Barbara at 6 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. and returning from the Salt Lake City International Airport to SBA at 11:15 a.m. and 10:45 p.m. 

The flights can accommodate 130 passengers.

New General Manager at Ritz-Carlton

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara hotel in Santa Barbara has hired a new general manager, Bradley Cance.

“I am thrilled to take on this role as general manager at this exceptional Ritz Carlton property on the beautiful California coast,” Cance said in a news release. “I’m passionate about delivering world-class service that exceeds expectations and looking forward to continuing the legacy of providing curated experiences with exquisite hospitality unique to Bacara.” 

Cance previously worked as a general manager at The Ritz-Carlton, Tiburon in Naples, St. Louis, Palm Beach, Pentagon City and Washington, D.C.

He also served as general manager at the Bethesda Country Club and the national sales director for Avendra Clubs, according to a news release.

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara has three infinity-edge pools and a 42,000-square-foot spa.

Nick the Greek Opening in Santa Maria

One of the fastest-growing restaurant chains is opening another spot, this time in Santa Maria.

Nick the Greek plans to open Tuesday at 479 E. Betteravia Road.

Nick the Greek got its start in San Jose and as a company plans to open 25 new restaurants in 2024, reaching 100 across the nation.

It recently opened a restaurant on the 500 block of State Street in Santa Barbara.