Yetz’s Deli is Isla Vista’s newest place to fill your tummy.

Owner Daniel Dunietz has expanded Yetz’s Bagels, 901 Embarcadero Del Mar, Suite 103, with a new deli next door.

“Essentially, the deli was an expansion of opportunity,” Dunietz said. “My neighbor was tired of operating in Isla Vista and losing money, so he shuttered his doors, leaving a fully permitted, built-out restaurant at a phenomenal location.”

The spot was previously the home to PokeCeviche.

Dunietz said he spent quite a bit of time thinking about what was missing from the Isla Vista food scene, and what kind of food and price point students would support. He landed on a complementary sister concept, Yetz’s Deli.

“We’re focused on fresh, toasted subs, tossed salads and refreshing smoothies,” he said. “We’re preparing deli classics such as my mom’s egg salad, tuna salad, and a curry chicken salad that’s amazing.

The deli is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

“I wanted to fill the missing needs while also complementing our growing catering business at Yetz’s Bagels, and a deli seemed like the perfect fit,” he said.

Margerum Wine Co. Closes a Tasting Room

Margerum Wine Co. is closing its Los Olivos tasting room and will “consolidate our tasting experience” at the Santa Barbara location.

“As of April 1, our friend Matt Fowler of Slouch Hat Wines will be taking over the Los Olivos space, and we’re excited to see his vision come to life there,” the company said in a statement.

It said it will focus creating an “unparalleled food and wine experience with the addition of our new chef, David Jimenez.”

“We are incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received in Los Olivos and sincerely appreciate the memories shared there,” the company said.

The tasting room will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday through the end of March.

“While this marks the end of a chapter, we look forward to welcoming you in Santa Barbara, where you can expect exceptional wine, delicious food and unforgettable experiences,” the company said.

The Santa Barbara tasting room is at 19 E. Mason St.

State Street Update and Outlook

The number of vacant storefronts on Santa Barbara’s State Street between the 400 and 1300 blocks in the third quarter of 2018 was 37; today, there are 37 vacant storefronts, according to Radius Commercial Real Estate.

However, many of the businesses that occupy those spots have turned over, said Justin Diem, a senior associate at Radius, adding that tenant turnover and general sustainability of businesses is a more telling measure of the health of State Street.

In 2017, he said, there were 177 businesses on State Street in the downtown corridor. Today, only 62 of those businesses remain in the same location.

“We are seeing a tremendous amount of tenant turnover and musical chairs with businesses happening in downtown” Diem said.

State Street Master Plan

Diem talked about a lot of good ideas coming out of the State Street Master Plan and that he is looking forward to the matter going to the full City Council for review later this year.

There is just one major problem from his perspective.

“I do think the biggest challenge of the State Street Master Plan is going to be the financial plan itself,” Diem said. “It is going to take a tremendous amount of money to really move things forward.”

Making Parking Cheaper to Bring People Downtown

Diem said that one way to bring more people downtown and make it easier for them to shop is for workers to park in the city’s parking lots. He said the lots are only 23% full during the week.

He said people are abusing the parking system by parking on the street instead of in lots and garages. The employees take up street parking that could be used by customers of downtown.

“We need to find a way to restructure this because we have employees and employers who need to be in these long-term spaces to allow the patrons of our restaurants and people to come downtown and shop at our stores to park efficiently,” Diem said.

“I am proposing that we make parking cheap in these garages.”

He said too many employees drive around the block every 75 minutes to park in the same spot or in city lots to avoid getting ticketed.

“That may be a mental health walk, but that just sounds inefficient to me,” Diem said.

Check back with Noozhawk this weekend for a complete report on the Radius 15th Annual Real Estate Economic Forecast.