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There’s a new business rolling into Paseo Nuevo in Santa Barbara this Saturday.
Xanadu Skate Boutique will kick off its grand opening with a roller skate demo by the SB Rollers at 5 p.m. in Center Court, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The new shop is owned by Val Selvaggio, who is a lifelong skater and is bursting with enthusiasm. She’s a member of the SB Rollers, and she said the idea of a store emerged simply from a desire for skates and accessories.
“We all need stuff, but there’s nowhere in town to buy anything,” Selvaggio said. “The closest roller street store is in Long Beach.”
The shop pops with color. An array of items is available for sale, including roller skates, laces, clothing and apparel, and other skating accessories. The founder of Moxi Skates will be on site for the Saturday opening.
A friend introduced Selvaggio to skating by loaning her a pair of skates, and she fell in love.
“Roller skating became this very self-help thing for me and I met a lot of people,” she said. “Roller skating is the most positive environment. It’s great for physical fitness, mind, body spirit, everything. I love it.”
She said skating is an escape.
“When we are skating, it’s all positive,” she said. “No one is having a bad day.”
Danielle Methmann, marketing and events coordinator for Paseo Nuevo, said Saturday is a big day.
“With a recent surge in popularity, roller skating has exploded back into the latest trends, and we’re thrilled to have Santa Barbara’s exclusive roller skate shop at the shopping center,” Methmann said. “The boutique is stocked with Moxi and Riedell skates in all colors that everyone has been looking for, which can sometimes take months to get if ordered online. Xanadu will also take custom skate orders, and their repair corner can accommodate repairs of any kind or upgrades to customize skates per the customer’s liking or skating needs.”
The name comes from the classic 1980s movie “Xanadu,” featuring Olivia Newtown-John.
Check out the store on Instagram @xanadusb, where there’s a countdown, with a new pair of skates posted each day. The store is at 207 Paseo Nuevo.
Aloha Fun Center Coming in August
It might be the most anticipated opening in Santa Barbara. The Aloha Fun Center was rumored to open inside the former Macy’s Building in Paseo Nuevo late last year.
There has been nothing but crickets since January, but that’s about to change.
The Aloha Fun Center is set to open in late August. It will feature a roller rink, laser tag and an arcade.
Much of the first floor of the building has been renovated, after a lengthy permitting process with the City of Santa Barbara.
Expect the doors to open next month.
See’s Candies Vanishes, Reappears in Goleta
The iconic candy store in Paseo Nuevo has closed its doors.
See’s Candies, 205 Paseo Nuevo, has long been a staple inside the mall, but the company apparently gave a 30-day notice and bolted.
The corporation opted to close its doors in Paseo Nuevo for a new space at 7044 Market Place Drive in the Camino Real Shopping Center, which opened Thursday.
La Cumbre Plaza is also home to a See’s Candies store.
Helen Zajic Now a Partner
Egan Law has promoted Helen Zajic to partner.
Egan Law is dedicated exclusively to family law and related litigation, with six attorneys and consulting agents.
“We are delighted to have Helen become a partner with the firm. She has shown herself to be an exceptional family law attorney with exceptional abilities in custody and visitation as well as domestic violence issues,” M. Jude Egan, the firm’s managing partner, said in a statement.
Zajic focuses on family law, including child custody, spousal support, litigation and complex family issues. She is especially active in trials, evidence and procedural issues. She has worked in the family law field for more than 30 years. During that time, she has served about 2,000 clients and cases, according to a news release.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in international relations from James Madison College at Michigan State University and her juris doctorate from Oklahoma City University School of Law.
Santa Barbara’s Tax Revenues Growing
The City of Santa Barbara took in $6.4 million in sales tax revenue during the quarter ended March 31, which is 18% above the same quarter last year, according to a news release.
City officials attribute the release to the decline of COVID-19 and its impact on the economy, and inflation.
Hotel bed tax revenues were $3.2 million in June, an increase of about $307,000 over June 2021.
Compared with the pre-pandemic levels of June 2019, revenues were higher by 40%, according to a news release. The increase, however, is largely related to increased average daily rates, which are 44% higher than June 2019.
The city has collected $31.7 million through June, the final month of the fiscal year. The city’s transient occupancy tax is 12% of the hotel cost.
— 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.