New tasting room opens wider window into Ojai vintner’s craft
The first thing you would likely notice upon entering the new, expanded Ojai Vineyard tasting room in downtown Ojai is an impressive wine library in a cooled, glass-fronted space that dominates the rear wall.
Visitors pour in to Tri-Counties for wine tourism
Tourism visitor spending in the coastal region that includes the Tri-Counties jumped from $6.7 billion to $7 billion between 2012 and 2013 as part of a 23 percent increase since 2009 that is expected to continue this summer.
The hip touch for hotels: Inn operators seek partner for next step
Shelter Social Club, a boutique renovator and operator of hotels in the Tri-Counties, is on the hunt for a financial partner that could contribute $1 million toward its next venture.
South Coast firms launch statewide hotel building spree with Pismo project
Two Santa Barbara firms are backing a 30-year veteran of the hospitality development market and his plans to build out hotels along the California coast, with the first test project taking shape in Pismo Beach.
An American dream, interned: Exhibit highlights history of grocers
“Who’s Minding the Store: the Small Grocery Business in Ventura County” focuses on sharing the history of many immigrant-owned markets in the county.
Natural Café banks on new locations for growing chain
Kelly Brown is the first to admit that he let the success of his restaurant empire cloud his judgement. As a free-spirited young chef, Brown lived on a boat in the Santa Barbara harbor so that he could build equity to start his own business. Twenty-one years ago, he launched Natural Café in Santa Barbara, hoping to offer a laidback sit-down restaurant focused on affordable, unpretentious and health-conscious food.
‘Sideways’ and up: Santa Ynez Valley readies for film’s 10th anniversary
“I woke up and everything was different,” said Frank Ostini, owner of The Hitching Post II. “Reservation requests at the restaurant literally tripled and we’ve never looked back.”
