The future is here.

A local dry cleaning company, Four Seasons Cleaners, has launched a 24/7 and fully automated self-service dry cleaning kiosk in Santa Barbara.

“It feels great to bring something to Santa Barbara County that did not exist here before,” Sonny Shah, vice president of Four Seasons Cleaners, told Noozhawk.

The kiosk is located at 3351 State St. and boasts a “simple four-step” process that allows customers to drop off and pick up their clothes whenever they want.

“We frequently heard from clients who wanted to drop off or pick up items outside our normal business hours — before work, late at night, or on Sundays when we are closed,” Shah told Noozhawk in an email.

Standard garments usually take one business day to clean and finish, according to Shah.

People scan a QR code at the kiosk to unlock a secure door.

The family-owned dry cleaning business has three locations across Santa Barbara County.

Staples to Close at Camino Real Marketplace 

A longtime staple is leaving the Camino Real Marketplace in Goleta. 

Staples will close in late August at the end of its lease with the shopping center, Mark Ingalls, Camino Real Marketplace property and general manager, told Noozhawk. 

The store does not have any remaining lease renewal options, he added.

“It wasn’t a surprise to us, as Staples’ new store prototype is approximately half the size of their current location in our shopping center. Perhaps they’ll find another location in Goleta,” Ingalls told Noozhawk.

The office supply store was one of the original stores when the Camino Real Marketplace first opened, according to Ingalls. It is the last Staples location in the Santa Barbara area. 

Ingalls also told Noozhawk that a new tenant is already in place and “ready to fill the space,” but he couldn’t share further details yet.

There used to be another Staples store at 410 State St. UC Santa Barbara acquired the property, Noozhawk reported. 

Customers reported receiving a notification that the store would close on Aug. 21, according to a social media post.

Staples did not immediately respond to a comment about whether the company plans to open another store in Goleta or Santa Barbara. 

Red Lobster to Close Santa Maria Restaurant

Santa Maria soon will lose the famous Cheddar Bay Biscuit. 

Red Lobster is set to close its restaurant at 1525 S. Bradley Road in Santa Maria on Aug. 31, a company representative told Noozhawk in an email.

The representative said the company continuously evaluates specific restaurant performance and lease terms.

“This closure reflected specific decisions tied to the unique operating conditions at this restaurant,” they added.

Farmacy Dispensary Expands to Upper State Street

The cannabis dispensary Farmacy has opened another Santa Barbara storefront.

It is located at 4235 State St., next to Harder RV Storage. 

It’s one of the six dispensary locations permitted by Santa Barbara County. 

Island Drift LLC, doing business as The Annex, was the original applicant for that property with plans to demolish the auto repair shop to construct the dispensary building, Noozhawk reported in 2021. 

REH Contemporary Studio and Gallery Opens in Downtown Santa Barbara

A new art studio and gallery officially opened on Thursday in downtown Santa Barbara. 

REH Contemporary Studio and Gallery showcases the artwork of Ruth Ellen Hoag, the owner. Its studio will offer weekly different types of painting classes to all skill levels at 12 W. Anapamu St., according to a press release.

The Downtown Santa Barbara Improvement Association hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday for the new gallery and studio. 

“Feeling at home in my working studio, it can, and has, become a place for small theater productions, music and other adventures in the arts,” Ruth Ellen said in a press release. 

Southwest to Offer Nonstop Flights to San Diego

Southwest Airlines will start offering nonstop flights between Santa Barbara and San Diego beginning Aug. 4, according to a press release.

The airline joins Alaska Airlines in offering this nonstop trip option.

Award-Winning Architect Joins Local Firm 

Santa Barbara native Erik Holliday has joined DMHA Architecture and Interior Design in Santa Barbara as a senior project architect.

The firm is also where his father, Michael Holliday, works as a principal architect. 

Before returning to his hometown, Erik Holliday worked at a design studio in Irvine, serving as a project architect for the past 12 years on award-winning projects.