Old Town Goleta’s most prominent corner is home to a new cannabis dispensary.

Megan’s Organic Market has replaced the decades-long fortune-telling business at Fairview and Hollister avenues. It’s the fifth dispensary in Goleta.

“It’s a college town, it’s a coastal town; our brand seems to do very well on the Central Coast,” said owner Megan Souza, who grew up in Pismo Beach.

Souza and husband Eric Powers started in the pot business through cultivation in 2010. In 2013, she started a retail delivery service that served San Luis Obispo County and northern Santa Barbara County.

They opened their first storefront in San Luis Obispo in 2020. The Goleta store is the company’s fifth.

Souza said she designed the dispensary so customers would feel like they were shopping at a market. The products are not behind glass or counters.

Powers is a farmer, and the couple said they are “passionate about food and cannabis.”

The store features a variety of products, including gummies, flower and rechargeable vapes.

Two members of the Goleta City Council attended an event at the dispensary on Thursday. Councilman James Kyriaco urged the dispensary to “treat Goleta well.”

“Take care of our community,” Kyriaco said. “We have a lot of new customers coming. There’s going to be new housing coming into the area in the coming months and years, and we are really looking forward to what you are doing here.”

The dispensary is the first one approved by the current Goleta City Council. Three other dispensaries existed as medical dispensaries prior to the city approving a formal dispensary policy; those dispensaries were grandfathered in.

“We’re so excited to have a new business here in Old Town,” said Councilman Kyle Richards. “There’s a lot of changes that either happened or are on the way here in Old Town. It’s an exciting time to be here.”

Souza also owns the building next door to the dispensary, which was previously home to a sandwich shop. She is interested in turning that part of the building into a consumption lounge, but the city of Goleta currently does not allow that use.

Old Town Goleta will soon experience a massive transformation, however.

In addition to two roundabouts already approved on both sides of Highway 217, Goleta plans a restriping of Old Town Goleta, and will take the street from two lanes in each direction to one, and create angled parking.

Previously, the city created sidewalks in certain areas, and a few years ago opened the Jonny D. Wallis Neighborhood Park and playground.

In addition, the city plans to extend Ekwill and Fowler roads to improve biking and pedestrian flow, and overall circulation.

Lilac Montecito Nears Opening

Coast Village Road is the home of Lilac Montecito, set to open later this month.

“We’re getting SO close and are SOFT opening on MONDAY 1/22!” the company said in an Instagram post. “We’ll be open for dinner service with a brand-new menu and fine dining experience. Keep an eye out for our website going live later this week where you’ll be able to make a reservation.”

The restaurant is set to open at 1209 Coast Village Road, which was once home to the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Most recently it was a Mesa Burger.

The Lilac Montecito team has been working long hours restoring and enhancing the interior, turning the inside into what looks like an elegant dining setting, with a new floor, paint and furniture.

More Cookies Coming to State Street

With a street graffiti motif, Cookie Plug is on its way to Santa Barbara.

The pickup and delivery shop is set to open at 918 State St.

The designer cookies have names such as Firecracker, Nutty O.G., Bam Bam, Pixie Junkie, and Good Luv.

They also sell Keto cookies, such as the Black Magic with 4.9 grams of carbs, and the Kitt, 3.1 grams.

The highlight might be the Plug Poppers, cookies infused with icing.