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There’s a winery shuffle going on in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone.
But don’t let it be a buzzkill. The tasting rooms will be back.
The Santa Barbara Winery closed its tasting room on July 28, at 202 Anacapa St.
In addition, the Oreana Winery tasting room closed on July 26, at 205 Anacapa St.
According to Radius Commercial Group, the building at 205 Anacapa St. sold for $4.25 million in the second quarter 2021.
“We would like to thank our customers and employees for over 17 years of business and continued support,” Oreana owners said in a message on the website.
Based on the signage on the wine tasting room doors, Santa Barbara Winery is moving to 28 Anacapa St. where Kunin Wines was. Kunin is moving to 116 E. Yanonali St.
Pali Winery currently occupies the spot, but Pali appears to be headed toward 205 Anacapa St., the former site of Oreana.
BizHawk spoke with Megan Kunin, owner of Kunin Wines, who assured us that the wineries will return.
“They are all opening again in new locations very soon,” Kunin said. “Everyone is moving.”
Jason Harris, Santa Barbara’s economic development manager, said he recently spent some time in the Funk Zone with a buddy who was visiting Santa Barbara. He said the pandemic has not taken the fun out of the Funk Zone.
“The activity was varied,” Harris said. “There were some locales that were really full and popular, and there were some that were more quiet.”
Harris said real estate in the Funk Zone is in transition and that there are businesses vacating and signing new leases.
“It is seems to be somewhat of fluid industry of partnerships being formed,” Harris said. “It’s a very vibrant commercial district.”
Commercial Real Estate Hits
Radius Commercial Group reported on Thursday that there were 16 new retail leases signed in the second quarter of 2021.
The most notable deals were the lease of 4,700 square feet for a new martial arts studio at 1107 State Street; Giffin & Crane’s sublease of about 4,387 square feet at 800 North Milpas St.; and Caribbean Coffee’s lease of 2,864 square feet at 220 East Cota St.
In addition, according to Radius, Starbucks leased 1,900 square feet at 3052 De la Vina St., at the intersection with State Street, which previously was occupied by Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.
Santa Barbara’s retail vacancy rate is about 4.3%, the same as the first quarter of 2021.
On State Street, there are 23 vacant storefronts, down from 29 in the first quarter of 2021. Radius noted that Restoration Hardware’s lease, for a large space at 710 State St., will be up in February.
Attorney Firms Merge
Fauver, Large, Archbald & Spray LLP and the Law Office of Dana F. Longo APC have merged.
“We have continued to grow our estate and trust client base since establishing our firm in 2012 and have built a solid infrastructure that supports growth,” said Trevor Large, managing partner for Fauver, Large, Archbald & Spray LLP.
“With this in place, we feel it is the right time to bring on a specialized group to further cultivate this important practice area. Mr. Longo and his team are the ideal partners. Dana offers extensive estate experience, supported by an exemplary team, and provides sophisticated counsel to clients.”
Longo’s firm will move under the name Fauver, Large, Archbald, Spray LLP, according to a news release.
“Both firms and its partners are locally known and respected, having served the Santa Barbara area and the California Central Coast for decades,” Longo said. “We are a family business, serving many local businesses, nonprofits, and individuals. Our attorney-client relationships are long standing and deeply rooted in this community. This merger allows us to strengthen our relationships and provide extended counsel for current and future clients.”
Fox on the Move
The Vintage Fox is moving to a new downtown location.
The Vintage Fox has sold antiques, vintage finds, home décor and unique gifts in Santa Barbara for more than six years, starting off as Fox & Goss in 2014 on upper De La Vina Street and transitioning into The Vintage Fox in 2018, according to a news release.
“I can’t believe I’m going into my seventh year as a small business owner doing what I love most, working with my friends and customers to furnish their homes with up-cycled finds,” founder and owner Ashley Fox said. ” I’m just thrilled to be a part of Santa Barbara’s downtown revival.”
The new spot, 609 Chapala St, is in a historic 1904 Victorian house, which previously operated as a luggage repair store for almost 30 years.
The property is located just one block away from Paseo Nuevo and one block from State Street. The Vintage Fox opened its doors on Monday with a soft opening, followed by a grand opening celebration set for Aug. 12 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Fox is also partnering with local artist and designer, Lloyd Dallett, who will feature her art and home design pieces, as well as art from other local artists, in her new gallery space known as, “The Shed” at The Vintage Fox, according to a news release.
The money raised from Dallett’s first show will benefit the new mobile shelter program designed by Dignity Moves, which is being built to house 30 residents, as well as New Beginnings Counseling Center,
— 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.
