••• The new owner of Shoreline Cafe—which officially hit the market in February—is Oliver Pihlar. He has been in the mortgage business in Santa Barbara for the last five years, and before that he had a property-management company here. More relevantly, from 2001 to 2014, he was owner and managing partner at the New York City nightclub Happy Ending. (It was in a former massage parlor space, hence the name.) As for his intentions regarding Shoreline Cafe, John Palminteri reports that Pihlar “plans to keep the name, the staff and add some healthier options.”
••• “The future of the Cookie Plug bakery appears cooked after owner Annette Rodriguez said she received a tersely worded letter from the City of Santa Barbara on Friday stating that she needed to leave her downtown business.” The cookie shop had been subletting from Metropolitan Theatre Corporation, and then the city didn’t renew MTC’s lease. No one has even bothered to tell Rodriguez why she’s being kicked out on such short notice—especially after she had been assured they’d come to terms on some kind of agreement. This kind of thing happens too often in a city of this size. Perhaps what we need is a small business ombudsman to stop the bureaucracy from screwing people over. —Noozhawk
••• The Mercado El Rey grocery store at Milpas and Mason has opened.
••• The Nugget‘s Carpinteria outpost is hoping to open in late April or early May. —Noozhawk
••• Pascucci says it’ll be at its current location (509 State) until May 12, and its new spot (1230 State) should be ready soon after.
••• I peeked in the windows of Ospi at The Post, and it looks snazzy. Co-owner Jackson Kalb says they’re shooting for the first week of May.
••• High Seas Mead and Single Fin Cider are taking over the former We Want the Funk space at La Lieff Winery in the Funk Zone.
••• The third-annual Natural Coast Wine Festival is April 26 at the Factory on E. Haley.
••• A profile of Cutler’s Public House. —Independent
••• The Cajun Kitchen in Goleta is closed indefinitely for remodeling. —Restaurant Guy
••• Shintori Sushi (3001 State Street) is under new ownership and it may or may not remain a Japanese restaurant. —Restaurant Guy
••• An update from Lion’s Tale: “We’re opening the bar up to reservation services starting Sunday, April 20, for those folks that prefer to plan a night out in advance. We’ll be holding back a portion of the tables and bar seating for walk-ins, as that walk-in flexibility remains our primary MO.”
••• The imminent opening of Mothers Tacos in Ventura has gotten more interesting: “the executive chef is Gabe Garcia,” who has been working on “a menu that highlights Mexico City-style tacos […] while leaving plenty of room for chef-y inspiration. ‘If someone’s just here for tacos, we’re going to give you the best tacos we can give you. But we’re also going to offer you a citrus-braised whole duck for carnitas and lamb shank barbacoa over chickpea stew,’ said Garcia.” (Plus: “churros made in the exhibition kitchen […] served in the style of Mexico City mainstay El Moro: trimmed into elongated, cinnamon sugar-dusted half moons tucked into crinkly paper envelopes or delivered to the table as massive spirals to be divvied up with scissors.”) —805Foodie
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That’s so messed up for the cookie pls e. They should just open up on the sidewalk. The city does nothing about illegal vending. In fact they protect them while they go after restaurant owners.
Seems like the best business model is no business license no health checks no rent no problem
As far as Reyes market, enjoy that 18 wheeler double parked in the red zone up against the crosswalk making more traffic issues on Milpas.
It’s been there every day 1-2 hours lift gate down obviously a new thing that the police have no trouble with
The Cajun Kitchen in Goleta is the one next to Target. There is another one in Goleta on Calle Real and Fairview. Hopefully, that one is open.
Unfortunately the Cookie Plug is an example of what most every business and property owners in Santa Barbara must endure. The bureaucracy is impossibly expensive and fickle in who it impacts….for example, if you are in their little club, you’ll be bestowed with untold benefits and advantages to allow your business to succeed. Keep your eye on those who are being allowed to build or open things that would normally be impossible. In addition, most aren’t aware that the City (your tax dollars) fund 13 in house attorneys, so when you go to battle with the City, you’d better be able to afford to be seriously lawyered up because your tax dollars are being used to fund their legal onslaught on you.
VOTE THEM OUT !
The City DOES have an ombudsman in the Community Development Department – she should go talk to them and/or her council member. At the very least they should give her some time to find another location or close out gracefully – I can’t imagine there is someone lined up to take over that space…