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Welcome to the planet.
Planet Fitness, that is.
Goleta is now home to one of the hottest new gyms in America. Planet Fitness Goleta opened this week at 7127 Hollister Ave. in The Plaza shopping center.
The 21,300-square-foot business features state-of-the-art cardio machines, strength equipment, rowing machines, locker rooms and showers. Planet Fitness also has the HydroMassage loungers, which deliver a delightful water massage for up to 10 minutes. There are also tanning booths, Total Body Enhancement booths and other features.
“We’re excited to expand our presence in the Central California Coast, and Goleta marks our fifth club in this region for our franchise,” said Shannon Meyers with Grand Fitness Partners, a franchise division of Planet Fitness.
“We’re also thrilled to invite the community to check out our High School Summer Pass program, which welcomes teens 14-19 to work out for free until August 31. We encourage everyone to take advantage of our limited-time grand opening membership offers as well.”
The fitness center is next to the Goleta DMV at the former site of Pacific SAles and the annual Halloween store.
The company is offering a introductory special through July 31 where members can join in-club or online for a $1 enrollment on either the Classic membership ($10 a month), or the PF Black Card, which is $24.99 a month and includes additional amenities such as the ability to bring a guest every day at no additional charge, access to all 2,200-plus Planet Fitness locations, access to massage beds and chairs and tanning.
Planet Fitness will hold a grand opening celebration at 4 p.m. on Monday featurnig a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte and chances to win a free PF Black Card membership. There will also be food trucks, entertainment, and a 30-minute circuit workout. Planet Fitness will also be offering 20% off merchandise during the grand opening.
Planet Fitness will also donate $500 to the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Barbara County at the event, according to the company.
The local general manager is Matt Curry.
Dave’s Dogs Getting Bigger
The popular local company Dave’s Dogs is expanding across the street from its current location in the Turnpike Shopping Center at 193 S. Turnpike Road.
Owner Dave Reynoso has been feeding hungry hot dog eaters on lower Milpas Street since 2015, and from the Turnpike Shopping Center since 2019.
Now he’s opening a new place next to the new Lighthouse Coffee, but it will have different focus. Reynoso told Noozhawk that he plans to open Dave’s Drip House ice cream and cereal bar.
Without even opening, the spot already has 1,709 instagram followers. The shop is likely to be a hit, considering its proximity to San Marcos High School across the street.
Reynoso likes to open stores near high schools to offer an off-campus food option, he said.
New Bank Hire
Montecito Bank & Trust has hired Lisa Harwood as Senior Portfolio Manager.
“Lisa has a passion for client service and a very strong record of accomplishment in advising her clients and their families in multiple areas including portfolio management, complex multi-generational planning, trust planning and personal financial planning,” said Montecito Bank & Trust senior vice president Thomas Fisher. “I have known Lisa for 25 years and her experience and skill in portfolio management and multi-generational family planning will be a great benefit to our clients.”
Harwood has more than 29 years of experience in portfolio management and high net worth relationship management, including experience in the ultra-high net worth market, which Montecito Bank & Trust sees as a growing clientele across the Central Coast, according to a news release.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and an MBA with honors from the University of Southern California.
“I am so excited about joining Montecito Bank & Trust,” Harwood said in a statement. “The organization is sincerely devoted to taking care of clients and to supporting the community. In addition, Montecito Bank & Trust team members are accomplished professionals with whom I will be proud to work with.”
Riviera Towel Company Customer Appreciation Sale
Riviera Towel Company is celebrating its sixth anniversary and is having a customer appreciation sale at the shop and online.
With clients including YouTube, TikTok and major local brands such as Sonos and the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, the Riviera Towel Company has emerged as the global leader in selling Turkish towel and bath products.
From a small shop near De la Guerra Plaza to a large showroom at 614 Santa Barbara St., the company has experienced success that any small business would cherish. It was founded in 2015 by Albert and Shannon DiPadova.
Hotel Tourism Up
Santa Barbara continues to cash in on its hotel bed taxes.
The month of May raked in $2.74 million in transient occupancy taxes for the city — about $461,000 above the same month the year prior.
Compared to the pre-pandemic levels of May 2019, revenues were higher by 37%, but that’s also because of increased average daily room rates, which were 46% higher than May 2019.
The local travel industry’s steady improvement in demand for rooms has continued into the spring and summer season as more COVID-related restrictions were lifted, according to the city’s Finance Department.
Santa Barbara has collected $28.5 million through May, which is about $5 million higher than the adopted budget for the current fiscal year.
The city’s transient occupancy tax is 12% and it is charged for hotel rooms, motel rooms, vacation rentals and short-term rental stays.
— 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.