Goodland BBQ is set to open at 5725 Hollister Ave. in Old Town Goleta next month.
Goodland BBQ is set to open at 5725 Hollister Ave. in Old Town Goleta next month. (Joshua Molina / Noozhawk photo)

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Good barbecue is coming to the Goodland.

Tommy Ramirez and chef Tony Bones plan to open a Goodland BBQ in Old Town Goleta in February.

“The main reason why I wanted to do this was that there are no real good barbecue places around the Santa Barbara and Goleta area,” Ramirez said. “They are all down South.”

The San Marcos High School graduate owns a cleaning company in Santa Barbara, but he and his wife decided to venture into the restaurant world. He has joined forces with Bones, who is creating the menu.

Bones, a fifth-generation Santa Barbara resident, said the restaurant business runs in his blood. He worked in the family business at El Paseo and Somerset restaurants in the late 1970s and ’80s. He opened his own business in the photo and film industry and worked in Los Angeles, Detroit and Miami, he said, but decided to return to restaurants with Goodland BBQ.

“My approach to the menu will be to apply what I’ve learned in my travels and marry them with our 805 culture — Texas-inspired barbecue, with 805 flavor,” Bones said. “Our tagline is, ‘Smokey good vibes.’”

Ramirez promises delicious brisket and ribs, with sauces that Bones will make. It will be a small menu, with 15 to 20 items. He’s putting the final touches on the interior of the site, at 5725 Hollister Ave.

Ramirez also has the family business in his blood. His grandfather was Pascual Gamboa, owner of the popular Pascual’s Mexican Restaurant on Victoria Street in Santa Barbara.

“I have many years working for my grandfather in the restaurant business,” he said.

He said he hopes the community embraces the next generation.

“I hope the community embraces it and supports us,” Ramirez said. “It is a new experience.”

Hotel Indigo Sells

The 41-room Hotel Indigo in Santa Barbara has been purchased by an all-cash buyer. It was listed at $19.35 million .

The boutique hotel generated 11 offers and closed in 45 days, according to Radius Commercial Real Estate.

The hotel, at 121 State St., was sold to an investor who plans to operate the hotel. Chris Parker and Austin Herlihy of Radius Commercial Real Estate listed the property.

“The sale of the boutique hotel, which sits at the heart of Santa Barbara’s thriving Funk Zone on the waterfront, follows closely on the heels of another major hotel deal in which Austin Herlihy and Chris Parker represented the seller of the 121-key luxury Hotel Californian nearby,” a news release states.

The Hotel Californian sold to the Foley Entertainment Group.

“I think as we continue to experience a resurgence in South Coast tourism following a rough 18-plus months due to the pandemic, we’re going to see more and more activity and interest in local hotel assets,” said Parker, who led the sale.

“It really is a testament to the strength of this market when we’re talking about two prominent hotels practically on the same block closing within just a few months of each other,” Herlihy said.

Herlihy also has listed the Franciscan Inn & Suites at 109 Bath St., just a few blocks away, which Radius has on the market for $22 million.

My Gym Nears Reopening

My Gym of Santa Barbara plans to reopen the last weekend in January.

The children’s gymnastics and events center at 2801 De la Vina St. is set to open between Jan. 24 and Jan. 31.

“Our new space is EPIC, it’s everything that we’ve dreamed of,” according to an Instagram post. “We can’t wait to get you inside. Due to the supply chain, and shortage of drivers and materials, we unfortunately have to push our grand opening weekend back.”

My Gym closed its State Street location in April 2020.

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.