Aron Ashland, owner of The Cruisery in Santa Barbara, welcomes the opening of State Street to pedestrians. “The energy and liveliness that is going on downtown is amazing,” he says. 
Santa Barbara has temporarily opened State Street to pedestrians and bicyclists. 
Santa Barbara has temporarily opened State Street to pedestrians and bicyclists. 
Bicyclists ride down State Street on Saturday to celebrate the city turning nine blocks from Haley to Sola streets into a pedestrian promenade. 
Architect Brian Cearnal, who has an office in the 500 block of State Street, set out early Saturday to paint an I Madonnari chalk drawing on State Street of his two dogs. 
Frank Acosta, wife Yatzie and their children, Solara and Marisa, enjoy a walk along the middle of State Street in Santa Barbara on Saturday. 
Santa Barbara has temporarily opened State Street to pedestrians and bicyclists. 
Pedestrians walk down State Street on Saturday to celebrate the city turning nine blocks from Haley to Sola streets into a pedestrian promenade. 
Scott and Debra Crawford, who drove up from Santa Clarita to spend the day in Santa Barbara, enjoy lunch at a sidewalk table on State Street. 
Santa Barbara has temporarily opened State Street to pedestrians and bicyclists. 
Santa Barbara has temporarily opened State Street to pedestrians and bicyclists. 
Santa Barbara has temporarily opened State Street to pedestrians and bicyclists. 
Santa Barbara has temporarily opened State Street to pedestrians and bicyclists.
It's gonna be hard to be put the genie back in the bottle.
Santa Barbara temporarily opened State Street to pedestrians and bicyclists this weekend. In terms of numbers, it appeared to be a big success. Thousands of people — on skateboards, bicycles and their own two feet — packed the street.
“This is a game-changer for downtown,” Nina Johnson, assistant to the city administrator, said as she cruised State Street on her bicycle. “We're really happy with how it's been working so far.”
Santa Barbara closed State Street from Haley to Sola streets to cars, almost instantly infusing a sense of vitality and energy to a street that at times has felt like a ghost town since Gov. Gavin Newsom's stay-at-home order in March because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The opening of State Street marks a significant milestone in Santa Barbara history. For decades, people have been pushing city leaders to close State Street to cars to create an open-air atmosphere downtown. Some businesses and city officials have said that vehicle traffic and cruising were essential to help downtown retail and shopping. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, has devastated businesses and forced city officials to scramble for creative ideas to help restaurants and retail.
Some restaurants also set up tables on the sidewalk in front of their eateries. The governor on Thursday said that Santa Barbara County could once again allow dine-in seating, but tables and people have to be at least 6 feet apart. To accommodate social distancing, the city is letting restaurants spread out onto the sidewalks.
“It's amazing,” said Aron Ashland, owner of The Cruisery on State Street. “It's what the city should have done 20 years ago. The energy and liveliness that is going on downtown is amazing.”
The city's success with opening the street, however, might present another problem: getting people to wear masks.
The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department strongly recommends that people — including visitors to State Street — wear masks, but most people on Saturday were not donning the face coverings.
“Those not wearing masks endanger us; we're in our 70s,” Jim Ruh said.
He and his wife, Bobbie, wore masks and enjoyed a nice stroll up State Street.
“We have been advocating closing it for years,” Jim Ruh said.
He said he's from Boulder, Colorado, and the 16th Street mall turned into an overnight success after the city closed that street. He said that with Chapala and Anacapa streets serving as travel thoroughfares, there's no reason to keep State Street open to vehicles.
“I never drive down State. It's too slow,” Ruh said.
Bobbie Rue said the city should keep a lane in the center of the street for buses and shuttles.
Among the thousands of people on the street Saturday was former Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider, wearing a black mask.
“It's great,” said Schneider, who served eight years as mayor and six previously as a council member. “I think being flexible is important. I just hope people are smart and courteous to each other and wear their masks.”
Schneider said opening the streets will help revitalize the city's economic base.
“I hope it helps the restaurants,” Schneider said. “They really need it.”
Architect Brian Cearnal, who has an office in the 500 block of State Street, set out early Saturday morning to paint an I Madonnari chalk drawing of his two dogs.
“It's just awesome,” Cearnal said. “Everyone has come by here and said, 'This should stay this way, this is such a great thing, this is such a good vibe,'” Cearnal said. “I think it is fantastic.”
Cearnal had the idea Friday night to create the chalk drawing of his 15- and 2-year-old golden retreivers.
“It's the perfect place to do it,” Cearnal said. “We need more visual arts.”
Frank Acosta, wife Yatzie and their children, Solara and Marisa, enjoyed a walk down the middle of State Street.
“It's nice to have a sense of normality again and not to be so stuck at home,” Yatzie Acosta said. “You go from being the working person to all of a sudden being the teacher and the mom, the cooking, the cleaning, everything, so yeah, it's nice to come out, it's nice to feel a little bit more normal.”
A few restaurants put out tables for patrons.
“Closing streets for restaurants is very European,” said Scott Crawford, who drove up from Santa Clarita with his wife, Debra, for a day in Santa Barbara. “It has worked for centuries there. I think we should adopt it more here.”
The Crawfords ate lunch at an outdoor table at Asie Dumpling & Hot Pot.
“It's a great dining space,” Scott Crawford said. “Eating outside is way better than eating inside.”
— 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.
