Out with one, in with another.

The 99 Cents Only store on the 400 block of State Street closed in April, but the building won’t stay vacant for very long.

Dollar Tree, a similarly styled discount store, is headed to the space at 424 State St.

The 99 Cents Only store abruptly announced a nationwide closure of its stores. Dollar Tree has swooped into the Santa Barbara location and bought out the remainder of the lease.

The exact opening date is unclear, but sources told Noozhawk that it would be late summer.

“The Dollar Tree store has committed to serve the community of Santa Barbara as another alternative store for our citizens to shop for their needs,” Santa Barbara City Councilwoman Alejandra Gutierrez said. “This is great news for everyone, as the Dollar Tree store provides essential items for families due to our economic climate.”

The loss of the 99 Cents Only store was a blow to the community as State Street continues to suffer from vacant storefronts. A vacant space of that size meant the loss of foot traffic and people visiting the area.

“We need to continue to strive and support our downtown corridor, so people can support our local and small businesses,” Gutierrez said. “We hope to continue to attract other businesses so they can invest in our downtown corridor.”

Andrew Firestone and Team Open New Hotel in Funk Zone

Moxy Santa Barbara has opened at 12 E. Montecito St. in the Funk Zone.

The new hotel is the product of StonePark Capital, a Santa Barbara-based hospitality development company owned by Andrew Firestone and Jess Parker.

“The opening of Moxy Santa Barbara marks an exciting milestone for our growing neighborhood, offering a hospitality experience like no other in the region,” General Manager Angela Rose said in a news release. “We are thrilled to open our doors and invite our first guests to discover the vibrant charm and excitement of the Moxy brand in downtown Santa Barbara.” 

Moxy Santa Barbara features 31 guest rooms, an outdoor pool, a social space for work and playing games, and a 24-hour marketplace.

The hotel is managed by Azul Hospitality Group, a San Diego-based hospitality management platform.

The hotel was formerly the Wayfarer, a youth hostel.

The check-in to the hotel, which is run by Marriott, consists of receiving a complimentary signature cocktail and a room key from the Bar Moxy.

“Bar Moxy’s ambiance encourages guests to stay while they hang out with friends or make new ones over hand-crafted drinks, light bites and bar games,” the news release states.

Nightly room rates start at $259.

Hotel Performance Increases

In a switch in trends, South Coast hotel occupancy increased 2% in May compared with the year prior, according to Visit Santa Barbara.

“The May 2024 data shows a welcome increase in hotel performance across the Santa Barbara South Coast, indicating improvement for the region’s employers, employees and local governments,” said Kathy Janega-Dykes, president/CEO of Visit Santa Barbara. “Overnight visitors to the Santa Barbara South Coast play a vital role in boosting the local economy by supporting a wide range of businesses, attractions and cultural institutions in the community.”

The average rate for a Santa Barbara South Coast hotel room in May was $341 a night, up 4% from the same month last year.

The data comes from STR, an independent hospitality data analytics company, according to a news release, and includes hotels in Santa Barbara, Goleta, Montecito, Summerland and unincorporated Santa Barbara County (between Gaviota and Summerland).

805title Opens Office in Santa Barbara

Westlake Village-based title company 805title has opened an office at 1117 State St. in Santa Barbara.

“We’re excited to be a part of the Santa Barbara community,” founder and CEO Sergio Gonzalez said in a news release. “We look forward to becoming a go-to resource for title insurance services.”

The news release states that 805title is known for “accurate, thorough and efficient service that helps professionals working in real estate and law build their businesses and protect their clients.”

The company’s expert team understands that an incomplete title report can hurt clients such as homebuyers financially and sour their relationship with other parties involved in a transaction, according to the news release.