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Sur La Table is the latest business casualty in downtown Santa Barbara.
The kitchen supply store at 819 State St. plans to close its doors imminently. The larger Seattle-based corporate owner announced Thursday that it is filing for bankruptcy and closing 50 stores across the nation.
As part of the filing, the company said it is pursuing a sale.
“This sale process will result in a revitalized Sur La Table, positioned to thrive in a post-COVID-19 retail environment,” Sur La Table CEO Jason Goldberger said. “Sur La Table will have a balance sheet and retail footprint optimized to position the company for a bright future that continues our nearly 50-year tradition of offering high-quality cooking products and experiences to our customers.”
Sur La Table opened its first restaurant at Seattle’s Pike Place Market in 1972. The store is also known for teaching cooking classes on site and now online with the COVID-19 pandemic.
An employee of the Santa Barbara store on Thursday said she didn’t know when the store would close, but it’s looking like early August.
All sales are final, effective Tuesday. Returns will be accepted through Aug. 7 for purchases made before July 7. Gift cards will be accepted through Aug. 7 at the location, but they are redeemable anytime online or at other stores that remain open.
Corner Tap Opens
Santa Barbara’s Mesa has a new pub and restaurant, on perhaps its most high-profile corner.
Corner Tap, owned by Chris Chiarappa, opened in June at 1905 Cliff Drive. The restaurant took the place of Giovanni’s Pizza.
It offers 25 mostly local taps, with some beers from San Luis Obispo and Camarillo, and “a few out-of-town handles,” Chiarappa said.
Flatbread is the primary food, with various options that include carne asada, vegetables, margherita, and sausage and potato. It also serves salads and appetizers, including chicken wings, corn-on-the-cob and roasted cauliflower.
“We are really happy with the food,” Chiarappa said.
The food is served on cutting boards.
Chiarappa said he decided to open the restaurant because there was a need.
“It felt like we were filling a void on the Mesa,” he said.
Lighthouse Coffee Expands
Lighthouse Coffee has replaced Breakfast Culture Club at 711 Chapala St. in Santa Barbara.
Lighthouse Coffee also has a shop at 1819 Cliff Drive.
“It’s really open and airy, and it has a nice feeling,” co-owner Chris Chiarappa said.
Breakfast Culture Club sported a beach theme, but the new coffee shop has an urban/city vibe. There’s plenty of outdoor seating, too, during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to opening Corner Tap and Lighthouse Coffee, Chiarappa plans to open Mesa Burger in Montecito, at the site of the old Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, within the next 10 days or so.
“We feel good about it,” he said.
Subway Closes Its Doors
Sandwich shop Subway has closed its store in the 1000 block of State Street in Santa Barbara.
The shop in the Magnolia Shopping Center also has closed.
— 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.