Charming though it may be, a building as modest as The Bottle Shop‘s wasn’t likely to last long in such a prominent location on a street that keeps gets fancier—and the clock started ticking a lot faster after it sold for $5.6 million in August 2024.
The good news is that the commercial building proposed to replace it would make a striking addition to the street. Working with BBP Architecture, developer Marc Winnikoff has chosen not to maximize the floor area ratio or the massing, siting the 4,857-square-foot structure off the street and leaving ample space on the lot for light, air, and parking (under a solar-panel carport).
The style is post-and-beam and a little industrial, utilizing steel and concrete in an homage to the railroad crossing not too far away, and also a little Northern California, at least in my view, with a dramatic peaked roof and wood incorporated into the facade. With an octagonal tower on the west side inspired by the old flower stand, the structure lives up the marquee moment of that corner, while simultaneously paying homage to the gas-station shape of the current building. (The proposed project is just a shell, with no use or tenant determined at this time.)
It’s worth bearing in mind that Coast Village Road can handle something that stands out. While there’s some worthwhile architecture on the street, many of the larger buildings range from uninteresting to unfortunate, and there’s certainly no consistent style that needs to be adhered to.
Because Coast Village Road is part of Santa Barbara, the project went before the city’s Architecture Board of Review yesterday afternoon for a one-time pre-application consultation. The board members were generally in favor of the style but had concerns about the height and/or proportions.
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I will miss the Bottle Shop, but I’m not sure I will miss their pricing.
What I will deeply, deeply miss though is the sense of joy and wonder that you only can get there from pawing through a randomly merchandised shelf of only semi related bottles. And then you find a bottle of motor oil. Or a first aid kit. Or a single package of Twinkies.
Agreed Andy. It’s a treasure of liquid assets! I’m not feeling this style of architecture for Coast Village Road. A glass tower? Who will plow into it first? LOL A glass building would be a stark contrast to the style of Clark’s, The Coast Village Inn and Bar Lou. Which I have always found charming. How about matching the style of building where Renaud’s is located? Solar car parks give an airport feeling. Do you know if The Bottle Shop will open elsewhere?
While I’m glad this corner is finally getting its due and I like the design in theory, it will stick out like a sore thumb in this location. The all glass greenhouse-like facade will make it too hot and seems impractical for just about any tenant. The solar parking spaces are inspired, though.