Staff Report | Pacific Coast Business Times

Staff Report | Thursday, March 27th, 2014

Startup Paso Robles wine brand Chronic Cellars purchased

Central Coast, Top Stories, Tourism, Tri-County Economy, Wine & Viticulture

Novato-based Winery Exchange has purchased Chronic Cellars out of Paso Robles, a young winery known for its red-wine blends and counter-culture branding. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Chronic Cellars is best known for red blends such as its zinfandel-based Purple Paradise and its syrah-based Sofa King Bueno, Winery Exchange said in a Read More →

Staff Report | Tuesday, March 25th, 2014

La Entrada to restart construction amid tourism tax boom

Real Estate, South Coast, Top Stories, Tourism, Tri-County Economy

In another sign that the region’s tourism industry is entering boom times again, the city of Santa Barbara experienced double-digit growth in hotel taxes in the first eight months of its fiscal year. During the annual State of the City breakfast on March 24, City Manager Jim Armstrong said that Transient Occupancy Tax, or TOT, Read More →

Staff Report | Tuesday, March 25th, 2014

DenMat buys Bay Area firm

Central Coast, Technology

In its second acquisition this year, Lompoc-based DenMat has bought G.Hartzell & Son, a dental instruments company in the Bay Area.

Staff Report | Tuesday, March 18th, 2014

Sonos snags Xbox product chief

Technology

Santa Barbara-based wireless speaker maker Sonos has recruited the head of Microsoft’s Xbox product team to become its new chief product officer.

Staff Report | Tuesday, March 18th, 2014

Move sues after Realtor.com chief leaves for rival Zillow

Banking & Finance, Law & Goverment, Real Estate, Technology, Top Stories, Tri-County Public Companies

Move Inc., operator of Realtor.com, has sued a former employee and much-larger competitor Zillow, alleging theft of trade secrets.

Staff Report | Monday, March 17th, 2014

Michael and Anne Towbes give $5M to Granada Theatre group

Nonprofits, Real Estate, Tourism

Developer and banker Michael Towbes and his wife, Anne, have made a $5 million gift to the Santa Barbara Center for the Performing Arts. The gift is irrevocable, the organization said in a March 17 announcement, and is in addition to the $15 million the couple has previously given to SBCPA.

Staff Report | Friday, March 14th, 2014