He’s a master chef with impeccable credentials, and he has worked at some of the region’s most elegant and upscale restaurants.

But one thing keeps him up at night: pizza. It has always been his dream to open a pizza place.

Dreams come true for David Rosner.

Rosner, or “Rozzi,” as he is affectionately called, will officially open Rozzi Pizza in Santa Barbara on Friday, and he’s going big with mouth-watering, 18-inch pies.

“I am a pizzaholic,” Rosner said. “I like all pizza, and they all kind of have their place in the food scene. What makes mine different is I am serving a large pie — an 18-inch large, New York City-style, by-the-slice pizza.”

All of his pizzas are offered whole and by the slice. He does one size with a thin crust, thick accent and bold flavor.

“It’s more of what you would see at the corner pizzeria wherever you lived in New York, any of the five boroughs,” Rosner said.

He grew up in New York City and spent his youth working in pizza shops and Italian restaurants, where “every corner has a pizzeria and that’s your spot.”

He moved to Santa Barbara about 14 years ago and worked at some of the area’s most established restaurants. His background includes working as the executive chef at Cafe Luck, the Wine Cask and the University Club.

He is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America.

The restaurant is at 233 W. Montecito St., near Santa Barbara City College.

On Thursday, Rosner was spinning dough.

“It’s kind of always been a dream of mine to do something like this,” he said, adding that the opportunity came along to lease some space, and he jumped at it.

“I just said, ‘Why not? Now or never,'” Rosner said.

For now, he’s the restaurant’s only employee, so he’ll probably be the one to hand customers their pies.

“I kind of grew up in pizza places,” he said. “You go to the local pizzeria. They have video games, the guy knows your name. It’s more than just going to get a bite to eat. It’s a sense of community, and I just hope I can authentically portray that to our community.

Blaze Goes Out in Five Points Shopping Center

The once-popular Blaze Pizza of Santa Barbara has closed its doors.

“After 8+ years, Blaze Pizza Santa Barbara is permanently closing,” a message on the door at 3925 State St. states. “We are deeply grateful for your support, loyalty and the memories shared. Thank you for being part of our journey.”

Blaze Pizza the corporation announced in 2024 that it was leaving California and moving its headquarters to Atlanta after the state’s minimum wage jumped to $20 an hour.

Blaze Pizza allowed people to customize their orders, using white or red sauce, and then watch the pizza cook in a few minutes.

Hotel Milo to Unveil Changes, Rebranding

Hotel Milo, at 202 W. Cabrillo Blvd. in Santa Barbara, is undergoing a “full-scale reimagination” with floor-to-ceiling changes to the property’s 121 guestrooms.

The property’s rebranding includes a new logo positioning it as a “Hotel by the Sea,”‘” with modernized signage and collateral throughout, and a revamped website set to launch in May, according to a news release.

“The rebranding to The Milo represents an evolution of the property’s identity, reflecting the elegance, history and charm that define Santa Barbara,” Tanner Turner, general manager, said in a statement. “With this reimagination, we are reintroducing the property as a refined yet welcoming retreat that embodies the casual essence of coastal California.”

The hotel will unveil its refreshed identity as The Milo in June, with full project completion slated for the summer, the news release states.

Throughout the renovation process, the hotel will remain open to guests, with several newly redesigned guestrooms now complete and available for reservation.

The rebranding is led by Second Wave, a boutique, in-house agency known for bringing unique property stories to life, according to the news release. Second Wave is part of Aimbridge Hospitality, the world’s leading third-party hotel management company, which is responsible for the operations of The Milo.

Mercado El Rey Opens on Eastside

Santa Barbara’s newest market and store has opened at 101 North Milpas St.

Mercado El Rey Carniceria Market opened its doors April 9 and then held a grand opening on Easter Sunday.

The grocery store and butcher shop offers fresh fruits and vegetable and an array of meats.