Grandma knows best. Just ask Falah Maayah.

The Jordanian man learned all of his recipes from his grandmother and is sharing them with Santa Barbara and his reopened Petra Cafe at 14 E. Cota St.

“My grandma is old school,” Maayah said. “Old school is better.”

The city red-tagged his restaurant in November because he was doing some minor interior remodeling without a permit.

Now, he has fixed everything, completed most of his remodel and is back in business, celebrating with a soft opening this week and a formal grand opening next Friday.

“It’s going to be a better cafe, for sure,” he said.

Maayah is from Petra and first opened the restaurant inside the Foxtail Kitchen & Bar eight years ago. The remodeling includes new tables and chairs, items from a recent visit to Jordan, including an Old Middle Eastern instrument with 11 strings, and a chessboard on the bar.

He also offers hookah at three tables in the back, and coffee in the sand. Maayah runs everything by himself, along with a friend in the kitchen — his dog, Kash.

“It’s just me, me and my dog,” he said.

Items on the menu include beef kebabs for $18, a vegan falafel bowl for $16, a kofta wrap with lamb, pickled turnip, cucumber, hummus and tahini-harissa sauce wrapped in pita. The menu also includes French fries.

Maayah said he is waiting on one more permit to do some work on the ceiling. Next Friday, there will be live music to celebrate the grand opening.

The cafe is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. It’s closed on Sundays and Mondays.

An authentic experience awaits, according to Maayah.

“A lot of my dishes are from back home in Jordan,” he said.

Community West Bank Merger

The merger between Community West Bank and Central Valley Community Bank is complete.

The all-stock merger will create a combined company, known as Community West Bank.

“Our combined company represents decades of unwavering commitment to our communities,” said Daniel Doyle, chairman of the board. “We are grateful for the steadfast stewardship of our retiring directors, and we are honored to welcome new directors whose strengths enhance our board’s leadership.”

The combined company has total assets of about $3.5 billion, according to a news release.

The merger will retain the banking offices of both banks, adding Community West Bank’s seven full-service banking centers on the Central Coast to Central Valley Community Bank’s 20 full-service banking centers throughout the Greater Sacramento and San Joaquin Valley regions, according to a news release.

Fresh Dog Food

The “pioneer in fresh, human-grade” dog food is opening a shop at 159 S. Fairview Ave. in Goleta.

A grand opening event on April 20 will feature special promotions, giveaways and opportunities to meet the JustFoodForDogs team, according to a news release.

“Dog owners in Goleta and surrounding neighborhoods will now have access to fresh, pre-portioned meals formulated by board-certified veterinarians in a range of recipes,” according to a news release. “At the new Goleta location, customers can expect a welcoming and educational environment where they can learn about the benefits of fresh food for their pets.”

The grand opening is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Kathy O’Dell Steps Down From Women’s Economic Ventures

Kathy O’Dell, the CEO of Women’s Economic Ventures, is retiring May 1.

“The last five years have been some of the most rewarding of my career, but I have reached a point in life where it is time to step away from my current role and embrace the next chapter of my journey,” O’Dell said in a statement. “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have led such a dynamic and impactful organization.”

Women’s Economic Ventures is a nonprofit organization focused on helping people start or grow a small business on California’s Central Coast. 

“Over the last five years, our WEV team has achieved significant milestones and made lasting contributions to the lives of thousands of women and small-business entrepreneurs within our community,” O’Dell said. “We expanded our reach and substantially increased clients served; we strengthened our programs and services and solidified our position as a leading nonprofit in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.”