Santa Barbara’s hottest sports bar and restaurant hub is on the move.

Shalhoob’s will be exiting the Santa Barbara Public Market as part of a series of changes at the downtown destination.

Mixologist Tim Cooney will be managing the front and back bars at the Public Market. Appropriately, it will be called Cooney’s Front and Cooney’s Back.

Cooney owns a company called Simply Cocktails.

It’s one of the several changes headed to the Public Market, which will celebrate its 10-year anniversary on April 14.

“The Public Market is a place where everyone can get what they want,” owner Travis Twining said. “You can get a latte, a cocktail, ice cream, the spiciest Thai noodles you have ever head in your whole life, and you can do it with your family.”

Cooney’s Front and Cooney’s Back is one of a few changes coming soon.

Wexler’s Deli is set to open April 8 across the aisle from Rori’s.

Shalhoob’s will be leaving on March 3o. Twining said he is bringing in a famous chef whose name he did not disclose to create a gourmet salad and sandwich menu in the Shalhoob’s spot in the back.

“It is kind of bittersweet,” Twining said of Shalhoob’s. “They have decided to focus on Magnolia.”

The company plans to open a restaurant in the Magnolia Shopping Center in the Goleta Valley.

The sports bar in front also will feature a new menu with “traditional buffalo wings with different levels of heat.”

For the anniversary on April 14, Twining is offering $10 towers that feature five 12-ounce beers and margaritas.

The Public Market has emerged as the area’s most popular sports bar. It has about 30 TVs, including “the largest TV in Santa Barbara” at the front, Twining said.

Twining said he’s even working with a sound designer to reduce some of the noise and echoing in the market because it’s so packed with people.

“It is a great place to go and watch sports,” he said.

The very back area, by Three Monkeys, would become a “fun, loungy area,” Twining said.

As the NCAA basketball playoffs are upon us — or “March Madness,” as it is known — Twining encourages everyone to come out to watch the games.

 “The beer will be flowing,” he said.

More on Shalhoob’s

John “LJ” Shalhoob tells Noozhawk that although the popular restaurant, jerky and meat company is leaving the Public Market, it doesn’t necessarily mean the end.

“The owners are really close, good friends, and there is totally a possibility of a return in the next year or two, if everything aligns for both parties,” Shalhoob said. “Until then, we will be focusing on the Funk Zone and Magnolia locations, in addition to finding the perfect location to start our ‘Shooby’ burger concept.”

Shalhoob’s opened in the Public Market a couple years ago with its “Shooby Burger and Fry” concept.

“Shooby” is the nickname that Shalhoob earned on the basketball court at Santa Barbara High School, and the nickname followed LJ 20 year later.

The Single Shooby has a double patty with American cheese, caramelized onions, special sauce and a sesame bun. The Double Shooby is the same, but with a triple patty.

“The last two years served as a great long-term test of the market for our Shooby Burger and Fry concept,” Shalhoob said. “After seeing the public’s reaction to it, we are really excited to pursue a standalone Shooby Burger and Fry concept somewhere in town.”

Montecito Optometry Moves

Coast Village Road has a new business.

Montecito Optometry has moved to Paseo Mariposa, 1165 Coast Village Road, Suite L.

It’s “in the most charming courtyard adjacent to Sotheby’s and Chase Bank,” reported Caitlin Hensel, a real estate broker with Hayes Commercial Group.

“Happy to have represented the landlord in this long-term transaction with a great local tenant,” she posted on Instagram.

Hotel Occupancy Down

In February, hotel occupancy was 62%, according to Visit Santa Barbara. That number is a drop of 3%.

The decline comes amid price reductions as well.

The average rate for a Santa Barbara South Coast hotel room, according to Visit Santa Barbara, was $258 a night, down 5% from a year ago in the same month.

In a news release, Visit Santa Barbara said the data comes from STR, an independent data analytics company. It includes hotels in Santa Barbara, Goleta, Montecito, Summerland and unincorporated Santa Barbara County between Gaviota and Summerland, according to a news release.