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.”
Great Danes: Andersen’s celebrates four decades in Santa Barbara
A Danish immigrant and professional chef named Alfred Andersen opened a small bakery on Santa Barbara’s Milpas Street in 1976, with his wife Birte and 2-year-old daughter Charlotte at his side. Today, that same Danish pastry shop is Andersen’s Danish Restaurant and Bakery, a nearly 40 year-old landmark in downtown Santa Barbara. The birth of Read More →
Avila schoolhouse tasting room changing hands amid Ch 7. filing
The Salisbury Vineyards tasting room in a historic old schoolhouse in Avila Valley has closed amid a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing, and a new venue will open there in June under the banner of newcomer Biddle Ranch Vineyard.
Hummingbird Nest rezoning paves way for Simi’s first 5-star resort
Texas billionaire David Saperstein has finally secured approval to have Hummingbird Nest Ranch rezoned, paving the way for Simi Valley’s first five-star resort.
Kimpton raises flag in Goleta
The former Holiday Inn on Calle Real in Goleta will officially start flying the Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants flag in July. The San Francisco-based boutique hotel operator said it has partnered with Newport Beach-based hotel owner Makar Properties to rebrand the 150-room hotel as The Goodland following a renovation. Makar Properties purchased the hotel for Read More →
Hotel Oceana gets a new name as waterfront inns ready for boom
The 122-room property at 202 W. Cabrillo Blvd. was purchased last month by Philadelphia-based investment firm HHM for $41.7 million, including the assumption of $24.9 million in mortgage debt.
