••• Former Satellite chef Emma West is opening a “bodega” called Flower Girl in the Elizabeth Gordon Gallery (E.G.G.) space at Gutierrez and State (or more accurately, Motor Way). “I’m planning on softly opening November 11 with prepared foods, cheeses, holiday preorder meals, snacks, flowers, vessels, linen napkins and tablecloths, candles, N/A beverages, and Hot Wheels cars,” she says, citing Cookbook Market in Echo Park as inspiration. “I’m applying for a beer-and-wine license, too, for on-premises consumption as well as to-go, but that will take another three months, and I have a private dining space for 4-6 people.”
••• After I posted that someone had bought the old MichaelKate Interiors building at Yanonali Street and Santa Barbara Street in the Funk Zone, Derek commented that ChatGPT says it was the owners of Rusty’s Pizza. Two other folks in the area have confirmed as much; one says the building will to be a corporate headquarters, while the other says that “they plan on using the back third, where there are no windows, for a dough-production facility for their entire operation, and for the front they’re planning on a family-friendly, old-school arcade (like Skee-Ball and video games), with a pizza window rather than a full-blown Rusty’s.” P.S. I tried calling Rusty’s, but I hung up because the automated response didn’t give an option to talk to someone in charge. The company immediately called me—twice!—to ask if I wanted to place an order. That’s pretty aggressive.
••• I’ll have more on Little Mountain, in the former Montecito Wine Bistro in the Upper Village, next week, but in the meantime, the restaurant announced an opening date of November 6 and is taking reservations. And the menu has been released. I’ll take one of everything.
••• A reader who is “friends with the owners of Mackenzie Market” commented that “the original plan was for this location to be a Teddy’s by the Sea but it will now be a Brass Bird coffee house similar to their Carpinteria location.” Still no confirmation from the owners.
••• Folded Hills is closing its tasting room at 1294 Coast Village Road. —Noozhawk
••• Kanok Thai Cuisine in Solvang has quietly soft-opened, and it’s shooting for a grand opening for later this week. The owner is Preaw Chamchoi of TAP Thai Cuisine in Goleta.
••• Reservations are live for Miracle, the annual Christmas kitschfest at Pearl Social (November 13 through January 4).
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Love the Brass Bird idea.
Fantastic news about the brass bird possibly coming to our neighborhood. Has this been confirmed ? Also will this location have a full menu or will it be a limited menu like they have in their carpinteria location ?
BTW I drive to carpinteria 2-3 times a week just to have coffee and pastries and their delicious breakfast sandwich. Looking forward to this wonderful addition to San Roque.
Thomas
Whoa. $110 ribeye….at Little Mountain. Typo?
That’s less than Lucky’s
Occasional Hitching Post special “bone in Rib Eye” is under $90 and worth every penny
Re “A $10/pp walk-in or reservation fee comes with a complimentary Miracle light-up beanie and a portion will be donated to Wilderness Youth Project.” at Miracle at Pearl Social. Is the portion $0.10, or maybe $5.00? Shouldn’t a business advertising that it is sharing some portion of a customers money with a nonprofit [presumably to increase the customer count and good will] be more transparent by actually disclosing the amount or the percentage being donated?
So sad about the purchase of the Michael Kate building by Rusty’s. Wherever they go, enhancing a neighborhood is not their goal. They took a prime location in Summerland and hardly have a place to sit down in a restaurant starved community. Ugh. Not a fine addition to the funk zone.
I believe the Folded Hills folks are scions from the Busch family (as in Budweiser), so you wonder why their business couldn’t stay afloat?
Maybe they are in charge of their own finances, without corporate ties? While I am not a member or a fan in fact, the folks are very well thought of here in the Valley- when given a chance to support local they come in at 100% – I’ve seen the receipts! They support many local stores & shops while outfitting tasting room/accoutrement. The men -dad & 3 sons, used to come to burger night once a week in Buellton. Always brought wine to share with the bar- generous tippers. Love to send folks to their mini animal compound
whoops, my reply was intended to be for Karen L – below! But as long as I’m explaining that, I will meanwhile note that one of the most perplexing things about Santa Barbara to a former New Yorker is the success of Rusty’s?
I have always been mystified by Rusty’s success, too, but kids love it and it’s fun to watch people new to Santa Barbara realize that every Rusty’s location takes on the personality of whatever building it moves into. Hence Medieval Rusty’s (Carrillo), Maritime Rusty’s (Summerland), Former 7-11 Rusty’s (Milpas), Strip Mall Nail Salon Rusty’s (Goleta), etc.
Pamela maybe you should have purchased this building and done exactly what you wanted to do with it.
So unfair how everyone has an opinion and is so happy to share this opinion even though no one really cares.
Ditto that Robert! Also I recall Rustys spending a lot of money to refurbish that building which was in terrible shape.
No big surprise Folded Hills is closing on CVR. They took a prime space and one can have wine tasting just about anywhere. This space deserves something unique and interesting.
We love the Folded Hills location on CVR. And we are sad about its closure. This is a family run, local business. The Busch family has a very strong work ethic & they are invested in our community. It’s not uncommon to visit their Folded Hills Winery and be greeted by Kim, Andy, or one of their son’s. They are wonderful hosts and responsible land stewards. We will miss them.