Four Santa Barbara businesses had to quickly come up with a plan for their establishments because their properties are being seized by the city.
Marty’s Pizza at 2733 De la Vina St. has permanently closed because the owner is retiring, and Yellow Bird Music has relocated to 2600 De la Vina St., a few blocks down from its site at 2726 De la Vina St. The owners of De la Vina Liquor, at 2735 De la Vina St., and Mishay Salon, at 2728 De la Vina St., have not found new locations for their businesses.
The City of Santa Barbara is taking the four properties by eminent domain in order to repair the old bridge over Mission Creek. The City Council approved the move at a May meeting.
The buildings occupied by the pizza parlor and liquor store are partially on the bridge, and the building occupied by Yellow Bird Music and Mishay Salon are within an inch of the bridge.
“I don’t want to move,” said Melinda Mastella, a cashier at De la Vina Liquor.
According to Mastella, the liquor store has been operating at the location on De la Vina Street for about five years and has had several custom pieces, including a large fridge, built into the store’s unique shape.
Mastella said she also feels a connection to her employers at De la Vina Liquor.
“They’re family,” she said. “I didn’t have a family like that before.”
Andrea Rigdell, the owner of Mishay Salon, hired a lawyer to defend against the eminent domain case.
According to Rigdell’s attorney, Todd Amspoker, the businesses were made aware of the bridge replacement for a while, but were told in 2021 that the project would be delayed for another year because of a funding issue. However, in February of this year, the city said it was going to proceed with the project after all, which left Rigdell in the difficult position of trying to find a new salon in less time than she had planned.
Amspoker said that finding and renovating a new, fully operational salon is a nine- to 12-month process.
The city has scheduled a hearing for Oct. 19 to ask for possession of the property, according to Amspoker. If that order is provided by the court, then Rigdell would be required to move out of her location on De la Vina Stree 30 days after the order is served, around Thanksgiving.
“Completely impossible,” Amspoker said. “She would lose her business if she were forced to do this.”
The City of Santa Barbara plans to start construction next year on the 100-year-old bridge.
— Noozhawk staff writer Grace Kitayama can be reached at gkitayama@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.