The surf is not up for two downtown Santa Barbara clothing stores.
Billabong at 631 State St. and Volcom at 625 State St. are closing their doors this month. Both are having massive sales of up to 40%.
The shutdown of the surfer-skater brand is part of a larger companywide bankruptcy filed by Liberated Brands, which has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
The company is closing 120 retail stores, including Quiksilver outlets.
“The Liberated team has worked tirelessly over the last year to propel these iconic brands forward, but a volatile global economy, consumer spending changes amid a rising cost of living, and inflationary pressures have all taken a heavy toll,” Liberated Brands said in a statement to Fortune Magazine. “Despite this difficult change, we are encouraged that many of our talented associates have found new opportunities with other license holders that will carry these great brands into the future.”
About 1,400 employees nationwide will be laid off, according to Fortune.
Liberated Brands CEO Todd Hymel told Geek Spin: “The average consumer has shifted their spending away from discretionary products such as those offered by Liberated. Consumers can cheaply, quickly and easily order low-quality clothing garments from fast fashion powerhouses and have such goods delivered within days.”
State Street Retail Slows
Retail leasing along Santa Barbara’s State Street has stalled, according to Radius Commercial Real Estate’s fourth-quarter report. Only eight new retail leases were signed, totaling 15,745 square feet.
“While demand for smaller spaces remained steady, the availability of larger retail spaces continues to push overall vacancy rates higher,” Radius said.
The largest Santa Barbara retail lease occurred at 1207 State St. Art Essentials moved into 6,000 square feet after spending more than 20 years at 32 E. Victoria St., according to Radius.
“Although the space was previously occupied, this lease by a local business helped activate an under-utilized storefront in the city’s arts district,” the report states.
Montecito Sizzles
Coast Village Road in Montecito saw two new big leases signed.
The Post, a new retail concept, opened near the Andree Clark Bird Refuge in a formerly office-focused complex “redesigned to capitalize on the strong local retail market,” according to Radius. “Montecito’s ongoing hospitality renovations and developments are further enhancing its appeal.”
The report states that in the wake of recent Southern California wildfires, Montecito and Santa Barbara have seen increased interest from residents seeking similar lifestyles, which may positively impact business.
The new leases were at 1236 Coast Village Circle and 1253 Coast Village Road.
Apartment Buildings Are Hot Sellers
Two affordable housing buildings in Santa Barbara sold in the fourth quarter. A 70-unit building at 524 W. Canon Perdido St. sold for $21 million. An affordable housing building at 1502 San Pascual St. sold for $15 million. It has 45 units.
Radius also reported that there’s a strong demand for multifamily properties in South Santa Barbara County, with 15 of the year’s 34 total transactions completed in the fourth quarter.
“These transactions demonstrate the continued institutional interest in the affordable housing sector within Santa Barbara along with a slight discount due to the rent-stabilization component,” the report states.
The Ellwood at Goleta Beach Opens
The Ellwood at Goleta Beach County Park expects to open fully to the public next week.
This week, the restaurant, at 5905 Sandspit Road, is holding a soft opening that is by reservation only, according to owner Omar Kashen.
“We are currently in the middle of our soft opening to get service and food perfected before we open on a larger scale to the public,” Kashen said.
Jane Adds Lunch Hours
Jane on State Street in Santa Barbara is open again for lunch.
“We have been closed for lunch since the pandemic and are thrilled to be serving our loyal community for lunch once again,” the company said.
The restaurant’s new lunch hours are 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. It’s located at 1311 State St.
Mission City Sandwich Shop to Open Next Week
Mission City Sandwich Shop on Santa Barbara’s Mesa is set to open next Thursday.
The restaurant is owned by Nathan and Paige Simandle. It’s located at at 1826 Cliff Drive, Suite A, the former home of Sweetie’s Ice Cream shop.
Let’s Rolld
Rolld Ice Cream is opening in Santa Barbara’s Paseo Nuevo later this month, according to its Instagram page.
“After starting as a pop-up, rolling into a trailer, and now opening our very own storefront, we are beyond excited to welcome you to ROLLD ICE CREAM!” the company posted.
“This isn’t just about ice cream — it’s about creating a space filled with kindness, connection, and unforgettable experiences. Every roll is made fresh right in front of you, but the impact goes even further. A portion of proceeds supports animal rescues, cancer research, children’s hospitals, and giving back to our Santa Barbara community — because ice cream tastes even sweeter when it does good.”
The restaurant will be at 819-A State St., in the mall.