Competition is good.

And the gas station wars are about to heat up in western Goleta.

Construction on a new Fuel Depot, owned by developer John Price, is underway at 370 Storke Road.

Crews this week demolished the four-stall car wash as they gear up to build a new facility that includes an eight-pump gas station, a new four-stall car wash and eventually a new market that fronts the street.

“This is very exciting for residents,” said Jordan Dohogne, vice president of Price Management. “We take great pride in providing high-quality gas at competitive prices.”

The nearest gas stations are Chevron, at the corner of Storke Road and Hollister Avenue, which on Thursday evening was charging $6.99 for regular unleaded and $7.28 for premium.

The Mobil gas station at 49 Glen Annie Road was charging $6.79 for regular and $6.99 for premium.

The Fuel Depot gas station is also about a mile away from Isla Vista, occupied by thousands of students, which has zero gas stations.

The new development will go deeper than what’s currently there. Price owns property behind the former car wash, which was used for storage containers. The car wash will move toward the back, with the gas station in the middle and the market in the front.

It’s unclear which company will occupy the market. Dohogne said that decision is still in play.

John Price purchased his first gas station at age 17 — the current Fuel Depot on the Mesa. The company offers competitive gas prices. The nearest Fuel Depot at 55 N. Fairview Ave. was $5.17 a gallon on Thursday for regular unleaded. For premium, the price was $5.45 a gallon.

The company purchases excess fuel from major refineries.

Dohogne said it could take six to eight months before the gas station and car wash are open for business.

Presqu’ile Winery Expansion

Presqu’ile Winery has 1,100 acres in Sta. Rita Hills to develop a new sustainably farmed vineyard, according to a news release.

“Our discovery of this land presented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire an unplanted tract, with an exciting address and the freedom to develop and farm the property as we see fit,” Presqu’ile’s President Matt Murphy said in a news release.

“We are looking forward to planting what we believe will be a world-class vineyard site, not only for ourselves, but also for the benefit of other wineries in the area interested in high-quality fruit from the Sta. Rita Hills.”

The site was formerly known as Donovan Ranch and located on Santa Rosa Road near the Sanford & Benedict Vineyards. It features steep hills with ocean views and wide expanses of cattle-grazing pastures, a news release states. The site was formerly Iron Angel Ranch, a cannabis-growing operation that went out of business.

The first phase, the news release states, will include planting 45 acres with pinot noir, chardonnay and syrah in spring 2025. Fruit from the new site will be used in Presqu’ile’s portfolio and be available for sale to select wineries.

“This is one of the last jewels yet to be discovered in the Santa Rita Hills,” Presqu’ile vineyard manager Andrew Heilbrun said.

More Pizza

Santa Barbara Pizza House has opened in downtown Santa Barbara.

The company inconspicuously made its announcement on Instagram a week ago: “Are you all ready? We’re the new pizza place in town!!”

Santa Barbara Pizza House is at the site of the former Patxi’s pizza at 515 State St.

Punched Out

Vintage clothing and collectibles store Punch closed its doors for good last weekend at 1223 State St. in Santa Barbara.