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The boyhood dream has come true.
Karlos Gonzales is opening Mariscos Titas in Old Town Goleta, at 5892 Hollister Ave. It’s a special moment for Gonzalez, who has delivered his food for several years. Now, he has a physical location.
“It’s really exciting,” Gonzalez said.
The restaurant will serve traditional Mexican seafood fare, featuring items such as ceviche azteca, Mexican seafood cocktails and botana diabla, the kind of cuisine that would be found in the restaurants on the beaches of Mexico.
He and his business partner, Edgar Hernandez, had been looking for a spot for a while, and almost locked down the former Alphies, a stone’s throw down Hollister Avenue. However, Goodland BBQ locked up the lease there first.
Gonzalez is a trained chef who went to culinary school in Mexico. He has worked all over Santa Barbara, including restaurants such as The Brown Pelican, El Torita and at the Bacara.
It’s a family business. He will run it with his wife, Mary, and their two kids, Benjamin and Miranda Gonzalez.
Recently he’s been working inside the restaurant, painting over the blue walls and making some changes. The spot previously was briefly occupied by Wingman Rodeo. He’s waiting on a final permit from the City of Goleta, but expects to open in early February.
Wingman Rodeo and Gimeal restaurants occupied the spot previously. Before that, it was a Natural Cafe.
Montecito Estate for Sale
The Montecito Tea Gardens property is for sale for $78 million.
The property covers 331 acres and includes the remains of an ampitheater.
The property, at 698 Mountain Drive, is a series of 18 parcels and was formally known as Mar Y Cel. According the listing, it is one of the most sought-after estate locations in Montecito.
The Coldwell Banker listing agent is Chris Harrington.
“Originally purchased for its abundance of water, this rare land spans foothills and mountainsides, providing incredible privacy and unparalleled ocean and mountain views from most every parcel,” Harrington wrote in the listing. “This is a rare opportunity for a buyer wanting either an exclusive family compound, a community of private world-class estates, or a variation of both. All 18 parcels have certificates of compliance, many of which have lovely building sites and are ready to begin the design and permitting process.”
A development prospectus is available.
Handlebar Opening New Shop
There’s no end, it seems, to the coffee craze in Santa Barbara and along the South Coast.
Caje and Lighthouse Coffee are experiencing growth, and now Handlebar can be added to the list.
Handlebar Coffee plans to open its third coffee shop, at 836 E. Anapamu St., across from the Santa Barbara Bowl, this summer.
Both other shops, 128 E. Canon Perdido St. and 2720 De la Vina, attract a steady stream of bicyclists, millennials and other coffee enthusiasts.
Vietnamese Restaurant Closes
Phoevermore is no more.
The Vietnamese restaurant at 1017 Casitas Pass Road in Carpinteria shut its doors at the beginning of the new year.
A sign on its door, posted on Instagram, states: “With a heavy heart we had no choice but to close Phorvermore indefinitely. We appreciate all your love and support over the years.”
The restaurant opened in 2016.
— 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.