What’s old is cool again.
Just take a walk through Thrifty Beaches, Santa Barbara’s newest retail shop where used clothing is the attraction.
Inside a 10,000-square-foot building at 710 State St., the former site of Restoration Hardware, Adam Kemp and girlfriend Maria Trott curate pre-owned, unique clothing items. Their goal is to promote environmental sustainability by selling used clothing and goods.
“Our shop is unique because I have a different philosophy when it comes to resell,” Kemp said. “I am not afraid to take risks. I am very creative. I have a lot of ideas and I am not afraid to try new things.”
Kemp, a former college wrestling star at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, literally rode into his new shop on State Street on a horse to celebrate his grand opening on June 28. On a recent afternoon, Frank Ocean’s soulful song “Novacane” played on the illuminated speakers as a steady crowd of shoppers meandered through the store.
With calm overhead lighting, hardwood floors, couches and young-people music blasting, the place is as much of a loungey, chill meet-up place as it is a retail clothing shop. From jeans to jackets and purses and hats, including vintage athletic wear, the choices are many.
For shoppers looking for brands, there’s no shortage — Louis Vuitton and Prada, and bounce back to the 1980s and ’90s with the ample offerings of Levi’s 501 jeans. There’s also Wrangler and Lee jeans. The company says it is looking for quality vintage clothes and not “fast fashion.”
Kemp said he wants people to experience shopping in person.
“I don’t sell anything on eBay or online so it kind of forces people to shop,” Kemp said.
Kemp said online shopping might be more convenient, but it’s less of an experience.
“I think there’s a really cool element to going out and having an actual activity and bringing friends out frequenting cool spaces,” Kemp said.
He said Santa Barbara was an attractive market and that maybe he could help revive State Street.
“I kind of wanted to be a part of that and try it out,” Kemp said.
The original store is in San Luis Obispo.
Colliers Commercial Real Estate Report
Santa Barbara’s apartment vacancy rate is 2.2%, according to Colliers’ Q2 real estate report.
The average rent is about $2,719 per unit. Year over year, rents have risen 2.9% and are currently 27.4% higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic started.
For buyers of apartment buildings, sales volume reached $46.7 million, marking a 23% increase compared with the same period last year.
Zero new units came to market in the second quarter, and 92 are under construction, according to Colliers.
Check back next week for more information on the state of retail.
Santa Barbara’s hotel market is also on the rise. The average daily rate to stay in a room is about $301, according to Colliers, up about 1.7% year over year. The number of hotel rooms rented grew 7.5% in Carpinteria and 3.3% in Santa Barbara. It was down 2.4% in Goleta.
“The market remains supply-constrained, with no new hotel rooms under construction or recently delivered,” according to Colliers. “Santa Barbara’s hotel sector remains resilient, anchored by strong leisure demand and lingering pent-up travel interest. The market benefits from broader Southern California tourism trends, with modest but steady
gains in occupancy, rates and revenue expected in the second half of 2025.”
Overall on the South Coast, hotel occupancy was about 70.5% in Q2, up from 64.3% in Q1.
Luna’s Cafe Opens Downtown
The former Judge for Yourself Cafe near the Santa Barbara County Administration building in Santa Barbara is now Luna’s Cafe.
Like Judge for Yourself Cafe, it is a breakfast and lunch place, open from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily at 1218 Santa Barbara St.
New CoastHills Credit Union CEO
James Ledford is the new president and CEO of CoastHills Credit Union.
He most recently served as executive vice president and chief experience officer, overseeing lending, collections and member experience. Ledford was hired in 2015 and was appointed interim CEO in 2024.
“From the moment I was given the opportunity to lead, I made it a priority to put culture at the heart of everything we do,” Ledford said in a statement. “What makes CoastHills truly special is our incredible team and our loyal members. I’m committed to strengthening our credit union from the inside out — ensuring everyone we serve feels valued and knows how much their membership means to us.”
Ledford is a U.S. Army veteran and earned a master’s degree in business administration from Western Governors University.
New Sprouts Set to Grow in Santa Maria
A specialty grocery store will add a Santa Maria location, but customers will have to be patient since Santa Barbara County’s second Sprouts Farmers Market won’t blossom soon.
Westar Associates, a Newport Beach-based real estate company, recently announced the signing of a lease with Sprouts Farmers Market at Crossroads Santa Maria.
Sprouts, a health-focused grocery option, won’t open until 2027, according to a Sprouts representative.
A sign announcing the arrival now hangs at the storefront, which most recently housed Furniture Outlet and previously Staples.
“We are thrilled to welcome Sprouts to Crossroads Santa Maria,” said Kam Walton, executive vice president of acquisitions and leasing at Westar Associates. “Sprouts’ commitment to health, wellness and community makes them an ideal fit for the center and a valuable addition for residents in the surrounding area.”
— Noozhawk North County Editor Janene Scully contributed to this report.
