Two new restaurants could be going into the former Anchor Rose location at the Santa Barbara Harbor, with Corazón Sal de Mar downstairs and Harbor Tavern upstairs. 

The city is considering the two leases in the wake of Anchor Rose closing in January after four years in business at 113 Harbor Way, Suite 180. 

In December, the city issued a request for proposals for the downstairs and upstairs as two separate leases. 

The Santa Barbara Harbor Commission reviewed Corazón Sal de Mar’s proposal in February and Harbor Tavern’s proposal in March, and recommended that the city move forward with pursuing lease agreements with both operators. 

Corazón Sal de Mar, which has an existing location in the Santa Barbara Public Market, and Kaijo-Japanese Cuisine and Seafood both submitted proposals for the downstairs space. 

A panel of seven “subject matter experts” reviewed the proposals and voted to move forward with Corazón Sal de Mar, according to the city staff report. 

The panel consisted of three members of the Harbor Commission’s request for proposal workgroup, three Waterfront administrative staff, and the Parks and Recreation Department’s business manager.

The restaurant would be operated by Chef Ramon Velasquez and Dudley Michael, who plan to invest $750,000 in tenant improvements for the 2,954-square-foot restaurant space.

The restaurant could open sometime between June and February 2027, according to the city staff report. 

Only one business submitted a proposal for the 3,527-square-foot upstairs space, On the Land LLC, for a restaurant called Harbor Tavern. 

The concept is inspired by “classic American harbor restaurants” and warm and welcoming “tavern-style” dining rooms. The proposal comes from Donald Chick, Jonny Black and Ben Goldhirsh, according to the city staff report.

The operators plan for $500,000 to $700,000 in tenant improvements and hope to open the restaurant six to seven months after the lease is finalized, according to the staff report.

Both restaurants are expected to bring in $3.5 million in annual revenue, which would generate approximately $350,000 a year for the Waterfront Department, according to Cesar Barrios, waterfront business manager.

The city is now negotiating leases with both restaurants and will bring a draft lease to the Harbor Commission, which ultimately would have to be approved by the Santa Barbara City Council. If negotiations are unsuccessful, the city will have to reopen the request for proposals.