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Just in time for free Slurpees on July 11, business is about to pick up in at least one part of downtown Santa Barbara.
7-Eleven, the iconic home of the Slurpee, has opened its 12th convenience store between Goleta and Carpinteria, this one on the corner of the 700 block of State Street in Santa Barbara.
The site was previously Panera Bread, and Left at Albuquerque before that. The property managers divided the space, and 7-Eleven took up half of it.
Like the 7-Eleven on Milpas Street, this market does not serve alcohol.
The store opened to little fanfare recently, although it was somewhat controversial a couple years ago when it was rumored to be opening on State Street. Some downtown watchdogs questioned whether opening a convenience store that sells food for low prices was the best way to boost downtown’s struggling image.
That was a lifetime ago, however, and the COVID-19 pandemic redefined the terms of business. Now, many people are just happy to see a new business open its doors.
“Having a mix of business types is important for economic stability downtown, especially in our current economic climate,” said Robin Elander, interim executive director of the Santa Barbara Downtown Organization.
Everytable Restaurant Coming
Everytable, a national restaurant chain, is opening on the first floor of the downtown Amazon building.
On Thursday, crews were working inside the building to get it ready for an opening. The sign on the outside has already been approved by the city’s sign committe, and is hanging from the rafters and painted on the glass wall.
No one from Amazon returned Noozhawk’s call about the opening, but the company announced when it opened on State Street in January that a smaller portion of the building would be home to a restaurant spot.
Everytable markets itself as serving “equality.”
“Everytable’s mission is to make healthy food available and affordable in every community,” Sam Polk, co-founder and CEO of Everytable, said in a video on the company’s website. “We sell incredibly high-level, delicious fresh food for basically less than the price of fast food.”
A video on the homepage shows salads for $5.95.
“On almost every major street corner in America, fast-food joints sell burgers, fries, and chicken nuggets,” the website states. “These multibillion-dollar businesses have become the landscape of America, the food system itself. But the world is changing. People are searching for healthier, fresher fare.”
Spherion Staffing Moves
Spherion Staffing is moving from 271 N. Fairview Ave. to 141 N. Fairview Ave. in Goleta.
The employment placement company was looking to downsize its office.
Spherion helps connect local employers with local job-seekers in flexibily, temp-to-hire positions across a range of skills, according to Alexandra Hopkins, account lead with All Points Public Relations.
— Noozhawk staff writer Joshua Molina can be reached at jmolina@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.