Hi Eric, correction to your comment about 1260 Northridge. The seller paid $3.2M in May of 2022, NOT 2023. Thanks.
What is SYR? Is that another hotel? I love the Fess Parker
Garde is a beautiful space. Went in today and was treated so rudely that I won’t shed a tear to see them go. Bring on the books !
It is not, unfortunately
I would love to work at this new bookstore. Beautiful space.
In 1911 when my grandfather immigrated from Ireland he spent several weeks in Los Olivos working for his uncle who rented a large hay barn from Mr. Mattie. In my grandfather’s diary he refers to Mr. Mattie’s “rustic resort”. I lived in bucolic Los Olivos for over twenty years. Every gorgeous morning I woke to the Valley’s magnificent beauty and felt its illusive serenity. There’s something in the light, the air that you will not find anywhere else. You need to slow down and breathe. I hoped that eventually the Mattie’s property would return to its original roots, an inn, to let others experience what I was fortunate enough to experience when I lived there.
On May 16 and 17th my husband and I returned to Los Olivos and stayed at The Inn at Mattie’s Tavern in cottage 11 in an upper king bedded room. I found the room thoughtfully designed in understated elegance that combined the old with the new. We weren’t bothered by road noise. The native plant landscaping will take some time to mature. I’ve stayed at SYR and found it snobbish. I felt welcomed by Mattie’s young staff. They were kind and compassionate. They were not totally polished but they were genuine and seemed to really care about my well being.
While we were there we enjoyed several delicious meals. We also enjoyed one of the best yoga classes I’ve ever taken at a resort. The pool area is a serene oasis surrounded by stone walls. Our cozy guest bedroom offered a window seat by the fireplace where I was able to read several of the books left on my nightstand. We borrowed one of the Mercedes loaner cars free of charge to surprise our friend as we drove up his driveway in a snazzy blue convertible.
Of all the Santa Barbara resorts that I have visited The Inn at Mattie’s Tavern is my favorite. It feels like Los Olivos, my former home that I miss so much living here in busy Southern California.
A bookstore! Rubs eye and re-reads it. That is amazingly great news!
Agree re the parking. I’m from the UK and I’ve never seen another city with so much parking and at such a reasonable cost.
I believe the building is an historic landmark and cannot be torn down.
Why does State Street need to be open to traffic? The reason for having a walk street is to be able to safely walk while enjoying the spectacular architecture and mature landscaping and to be able to casually meander into stores, bars and restaurants. And frankly since the street has been closed to vehicles, I have never had a desire or reason to drive on State. I have also not heard that there have been issues with emergency vehicles there. Clearly there are design approaches to allow for bike riding while securing pedestrians - this happens everywhere in Europe. Parking is certainly not an issue as people can park on each cross street and at multiple parking lots behind the buildings of state street. In fact, Santa Barbara has more parking than any city I know. I can design a plan that would work for this and am happy to send sketches. Why is the city paying a firm $800K for the unworkable plans we’ve seen to date? Get on it SB City Counsel! Stop wasting time and move the project forward with what the majority of Santa Barbarans want - a beautiful and safe walk street. It has already revitalized much of the area!!
So excited that Bibi Ji is moving to the new space, and fyi the Smash Burger taco at Beast is awesome!
I thought the Hotel was delightful. The Owners have obviously worked so hard to get everything right - I am prepared to overlook some ‘teething problems’. I am sure everything will improve and improve. Kudos to management. This has been no small feat. I hope the reviewer returns in a few months and notices all the improvements - including landscaping maturing. Give them a chance !
Tourists will not come to the upper village to go to RH, people who live in the area and are looking for furniture will go there. Pierre Lafond probably gets tourists and the upper village seems to have coped with that for many decades.
This makes sense. Thank you.
The upper village is a secret from most tourists and our sweet quiet space will now have a huge National brand/RH driving people into our neighborhood. Born and raised in Montecito and HORRIFIED!!! There should be no big business in the upper village!
I am excited to have RH in the upper village. Gary Friedman is a local and has created magic in transforming the brand into something quite remarkable. What it will do is add vibrancy to the upper village, another choice for lunch, maintain the architectural integrity of an important building, and be a good neighbor. It will not make any noticeable change to traffic nor degrade privacy. If you think it is a big box brand, you are in for a surprising treat. For one, I am excited! Note: while Lucca was beautiful, it was an appointment only destination. RH will be an open house and I can't wait to visit and show some love!
I believe it's still going to be torn down, and is just an extended lease until the new development gets further in the approval process.
Isn't it still going to be torn down and redeveloped? Is the project on hold or just delayed?
State St entrance to the train station.
I am concerned about even more traffic on our narrow roads without sidewalks. Traffic in Montecito has increased dramatically over the past 10 years already!! RH should go somewhere that needs more visibility. We live in Montecito to avoid crowds and to have privacy!!! RH does not line up with that at all.
Agree! RH hasn’t become high end. All of its products are still made in China and I have not seen any shift from it being a middle of the road brand. I feel like there are a few writers and publications in the area that have some reason to need to support their intrusion in a very small, charming, lovely location - like they’re lobbying us to add a little big box. We should not be supporting this restaurant. There’s nothing about their food or their restaurant that is needed in the community. Check out other locations with Restaurants and get feedback from the community. See if they really eat there! Nope! It’s a tourist a tractor to get people from other areas in the door to Rh to order furniture digitally inside a brick and mortar. Do your homework
Montecito is not interested in the “hospitality” of Restoration Hardware - RH is a violation of our small town lifestyle.
Great news that Stella Mare’s lease has been extended. It would have been a travesty if that beautiful building had been torn down and a really good restaurant lost.
Love the new Bibi Ji location. It’s one of my favorite restaurants in town and that space will be a much better fit than lower state.
Sharon, I have the contact for the current shoe owner. It is of epic proportions how the story unfolds with the infamous red shoe.
