Kamil Jumale, left, and Miles Robbins, who met while working at a restaurant in London in 2019, have partnered up to open Milio’s Pizza on State Street in Santa Barbara.
Kamil Jumale, left, and Miles Robbins, who met while working at a restaurant in London in 2019, have partnered up to open Milio’s Pizza on State Street in Santa Barbara. Credit: Rebecca Caraway / Noozhawk photo

New York-style pizza is coming to Santa Barbara’s State Street.

Kamil Jumale and Miles Robbins are opening Milio’s Pizza at 801 State St., right next to the Paseo Nuevo plaza and across the street from Plaza De la Guerra. 

The new pizza place is set to open Aug. 14, offering a simple curated menu with high-quality local ingredients.

“We always thought to ourselves that Santa Barbara needed a really, really good authentic bistro,” Jumale said. “Not to say that there’s not a couple around here, but the type of concept that we’re going to go ahead and do, it’s going to be real old school. You’ll feel like you’re in Brooklyn or Manhattan.”

Robbins said they will be using high-quality organic flour, and the water for the dough will even come from New York.

The menu includes New York round pies, pizza by the slice, Sicilian square pizza, soft serve ice cream and mini garlic focaccia bites.

The pizzas will have simple toppings. The Milio pizza will include vodka sauce, grande East Coast mozzarella, pickled chiles, parmigiano reggiano, oregano and maldon sea salt. The white pizza will have white sauce, grande East Coast mozzarella, fresh mozzarella, parmigiano reggiano, stracciatella, oregano, California Arbequina olive oil and maldon sea salt.

Jumale and Robbins also plan to incorporate specials based on ingredients they get from the weekly farmers market.

Miles Robbins, left, and Kamil Jumale, the team behind Milio's Pizza opening in Santa Barbara, say they will offer a simple curated menu with high-quality local ingredients.
Miles Robbins, left, and Kamil Jumale, the team behind Milio’s Pizza opening in Santa Barbara, say they will offer a simple curated menu with high-quality local ingredients. Credit: Rebecca Caraway / Noozhawk photo

“The type of produce and ingredients that we use, everything is super high-end, organic, locally sourced,” Jumale said. “We will use some of the things from the farmers market when they’re here, like fresh tomato sauce. It truly is a magical slice, and the product that we’ve been able to create in a short period of time is breathtaking.”

Robbins said they eventually hope to add sandwiches and salads. 

Jumale and Robbins met while working at a restaurant in London in 2019. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they partnered on a catering company in Los Angeles.

They originally planned to open a fine dining restaurant, but when they found the 801 State St. location, they thought about doing burgers or chicken before they finally settled on pizza.

“You’ll be very happy by just having the basics,” Robbins said. “I think they’re going to be blown away. The pizzas that we’re going to make from the market and everything like that, they’re going to be wowed by the simplicity.”

Gelato Gardens is moving into the stone building at the corner of Garden Street and Cabrillo Boulevard in Santa Barbara.
Gelato Gardens is moving into the stone building at the corner of Garden Street and Cabrillo Boulevard in Santa Barbara. Credit: Rebecca Caraway / Noozhawk photo

New Gelato Shop Coming to Waterfront

A new tenant is moving into the stone building at the corner of Garden Street and Cabrillo Boulevard in Santa Barbara.

Gelato Gardens is set to open in Sept. at 1 Garden St. 

The owner, Omar Khashen, who’s also involved with The Ellwood at Goleta Beach and Lily’s Donuts and Pops, said the shop will also sell fresh flowers, Santa Barbara merchandise, grab-and-go items, coffee and other local items.

Goleta Staples Confirms Closing Date

There are just two more weeks to run to Staples in Goleta for office and school supplies.

Signs outside the Camino Real Marketplace store confirm that Staples will close Aug. 21. 

A new tenant has yet to be confirmed for the storefront. 

Milpas Taco Bell Closed for Renovations

The Taco Bell at 821 N. Milpas St. in Santa Barbara will be temporarily closed for the next few months for renovations.

The Milpas location is one of a few that has retained its mission-style architecture.

Fans of the Crunchwrap Supreme will have to go to 1840 Cliff Drive or other locations to satisfy their cravings during the closure.

Grocery Outlet Gets a New Owner

The Santa Barbara Grocery Outlet at 2840 De la Vina St. has a new owner.

Nesrine Rabia — a single mother, entrepreneur and immigrant — said she is looking to hear from the community about changes to the store, according to a post on the store’s Instagram.

“This store is part of our community, and my goal is to make it a place we’re all proud of,” Rabia wrote. “Your ideas, feedback and support mean the world to me, and I look forward to growing together.”

State Street Axe Club Opens Rage Room

Need to get out some frustration? 

State Street Axe Club opened a new rage room on Wednesday, just in time for the business’ four-year anniversary. 

The rage room is a safe and supervised space to smash, break things and let out some steam.

The Axe Club is located at 427 State St. in Santa Barbara.

WitMark Group Celebrates 20 Years

The WitMark Group is celebrating 20 years of marketing and communications in Santa Barbara.

Founded in 2006 by Marjorie Large as a solo-consultancy, the firm has grown into a full-service boutique with a downtown Santa Barbara office that has partnered with numerous organizations across the region. 

“Twenty years ago, I started this agency to help regional businesses tell their stories,” Large said. “Two decades later, that mission hasn’t changed. WitMark is still a true partner to our clients, helping them make their mark.”

— Noozhawk staff writer Rebecca Caraway can be reached at rcaraway@noozhawk.com.