Rori’s Artisanal Creamery is coming to Goleta at 270 Storke Road, joining Dune Coffee Roasters, SloDoCo and Target in that shopping center.

Rori’s is going in where Beach Baby Kids Boutique — which closed at the end of 2024 — operated, the ice cream shop’s namesake, Rori Trovato, and CEO Damien Kriteman confirmed to Noozhawk. 

It will be Rori’s eighth location in California and fourth in Santa Barbara County. 

Within the county, Rori’s also operates in Carpinteria at 751 Linden Ave., in the Santa Barbara Public Market at 38 W. Victoria St. and in the Montecito Country Mart at 1024 Coast Village Road.

The plan is to finish construction by the end of this month and open around the end of March.

There will be 24 standard ice cream flavors, with one or two new flavors introduced monthly, as with the other Rori’s stores.

Trovato said they’ve been on the hunt for a good location in Goleta for years. 

“Goleta is a huge target market for us,” she said. “Lots of families, lots of schools, and essentially, little to no ice cream.” 

She said they’re excited to open in that shopping center because it’s close to UC Santa Barbara and Girsh Park, along with other popular spots. It also has a lot of parking, and nearby 24/7 doughnut shop SloDoCo draws a lot of business to that corner. 

“The center is wildly trafficked,” she said. “That is one of the busiest, if not the busiest, intersections in Goleta.” 

There will also be outdoor seating to “encourage people to stay rather than just buy an ice cream and wander off,” Trovato said. 

Kriteman said Rori’s wants to integrate itself into the Goleta Valley community; they’ve begun sponsoring the Dos Pueblos and Goleta Valley little leagues, and hope to start working with schools in the area before summer. 

The Goleta location will likely open at 11 a.m. or noon and close at 10 p.m. or 11 p.m., depending on the season.

A “coming soon” banner should be up on that location in the coming week.

Bubbly Lounge Now Open in El Paseo 

Santa Barbara Bubbly Lounge — described by owners Jamie and Kym Slone as a community-focused, low-ABV sparkling wine bar — is now open in historic El Paseo at 23 E. De la Guerra St., Suite 100. 

This is veteran wine producer Jamie Slone’s second wine-related business; the first, Jamie Slone Wines, has been open in the historic El Paseo area for 12 years. 

He held a soft opening over the holidays, but he said the Bubbly Lounge officially opened at the end of January. 

He told Noozhawk that it’s a separate business from Jamie Slone Wines, with a focus on “today’s younger wine consumers and their changing tastes.” 

“Today’s wine consumers’ tastes are changing,” Slone said. “(…) They’re looking for mindful indulgence, moderation. They’re looking for a lower-alcohol white, maybe a chilly red.”

He said he curated the space with community and connection in mind. He plans to host games and trivia in the space for those “looking for mental indulgence.” 

The lounge’s sparkling wines are all “methode champennoise,” a technique that requires a second fermentation in the bottle. 

“(The wines) are fabulous,” Slone said. “They’re all dry, they’re approachable, they’re festive.”

Santa Barbara Bubbly Lounge has space for 10 people on the inside and 14 on the outside. 

A gourmet cheese board, potato chips and almonds are on the menu alongside three low-ABV sparkling wines, as well as popcorn from Santa Barbara Popcorn Co. 

The Slones are also partnering with a local patisserie, Réve.

Santa Barbara Bubbly Lounge is open Monday through Thursday from 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays from 12:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Open Air Bicycles’ Owner Retiring, Looking to Sell 

Open Air Bicycles owner Ed Brown is retiring, he confirmed to Noozhawk.

Brown said he hopes to sell the business at 135 E. Carrillo St. to a like-minded bike enthusiast; if not, he plans to close the doors to the public in early March. 

“I would love to hand it off to someone,” he said. “(…) I’m not looking to make a profit or anything like that. I would love to see Open Air continue to be a community leader … so that’s my goal.” 

Bikes may still be available for online purchase through the end of March, when Brown’s lease is up, he told Noozhawk. 

Open Air Bicycles has been open for 55 years, the last 16 under Brown. It first opened around 1971 closer to the downtown train station. 

He said the bike business flourished during the COVID-19 pandemic because “there was nowhere to go” but outside. More recently, tariffs and online shopping through retail giants such as Amazon have hurt the business. 

Brown also got married last year, and he said he has plans to move to Colorado with his wife. 

“I’ve worked six days a week for the last 10 years,” he said. “(…) I’m gonna enjoy the latter part of my life and find some adventures to do.” 

He is in the process of liquidating his stock. Items such as clothing are up to 75% off, while bikes, which are new, are 40% to 60% off. 

Brown said he wanted to thank the community “for being so supportive of a local business.”

Open Air Bicycles is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Brown can be contacted at ed@openairbicycles.com or 805.962.7000.

Cajun Kitchen Reopens This Month on Hollister Avenue 

Breakfast joint Cajun Kitchen’s Hollister Avenue location in Goleta is set to reopen the week of Feb. 16, Jorge Peralta, director of operations, confirmed in an email. 

The restaurant, at 6831 Hollister Ave., has been closed for 11 months while “undergoing a complete interior and exterior remodel,” Peralta said.   

A new dining area, breakfast counter and more now fill the space. Peralta said the spot now has a “fresh, modern look.” 

“We are thrilled to reopen our doors and continue serving the Goleta community with our classic breakfast and lunch offerings,” he added. 

There are three other Cajun Kitchen locations: in downtown Santa Barbara at 901 Chapala St., in Goleta at 6025 Calle Real and in Ventura at 301 E. Main St. 

The Hollister Avenue location will be open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.

Free People Opens Another Store

Bobo and bohemian fashion brand Free People is now open at 40 Los Patos Way, near the Andrée Clark Bird Refuge in Santa Barbara. 

Free People falls under the URBN fashion brand, which includes Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, FP Movement, Anthpologie Weddings, Terrain, Menus & Venues, and Nuuly. 

It’s the brand’s second Free People in the South County; the first is located at 1127 State St. in downtown Santa Barbara. 

“We’re officially open in Montecito, CA, & it might be our favorite store yet,” Free People representatives posted on social media on Tuesday. 

Isla Vista’s Sweet Jane Closing

Sweet Jane, a costume, party and women’s clothing boutique in Isla Vista, will close Feb. 21 after nearly 20 years in business. 

Store representatives said on social media that the 6549 Pardall Road store will be open every day this month, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with 50% off all store stock. 

The store opened on Trigo Road in 2006 under owner Stella Termin, the Daily Nexus reported. 

Over the years, the store — known for its iconic glasses, Halloween costumes, lingerie and beyond — gained a popular following from nearby UC Santa Barbara students. 

“Sweet Jane has always been where the party starts — and while this chapter is coming to an end, the party never ends,” store representatives wrote on Instagram. “It lives on in the memories made, the outfits worn, and the people who made this space so special.” 

Have you noticed any businesses opening, closing, or moving locations? Send us your BizHawk tips and photos at news@noozhawk.com.