Anonymous
By edhat staff
All the remaining assets of High Sierra Grill near the Santa Barbara Airport are now up for auction.
Auction Nation announced they are liquidating all items in the now-closed restaurant after owner Manuel Perales decided to hold an online auction available to the general public.
High Sierra Grill, located at 521 Firestone Road, opened in 2015 and closed late last year after attempting to reassign their lease to investors of a flight-themed restaurant, named Flightline, and its manager Warren Butler. The City of Santa Barbara denied the lease transfer stating they had legitimate business concerns regarding Flightline’s ability to assume the lease obligations and operate a high-quality restaurant and bar for the entire remaining term of the lease.
High Sierra Grill then filed a claim of damages against the City of Santa Barbara in November alleging the City constituted numerous contractual breaches resulting in substantial financial losses. The next court hearing is scheduled for March 6.
The auction includes everything from deep fryers and commercial freezers to flat-screen televisions and dining tables.
All bidding will take place online now through Tuesday, February 4. There will also be an open house preview on Tuesday, February 4 from 10 am until 12 pm. For full details and a complete schedule of the High Sierra Bar and Grill Liquidation Auction visit www.AuctionNation.com
Related Articles
- December 7, 2019: High Sierra Grill Files Claim for Damages
- August 20, 2019:
Fig Mtn Brew should open another restaurant here.
Or a taproom with food I meant.
I’d like to see a BBQ country & western bar/restaurant like they have in Texas. Live entertainment, line dancing, brisket—the whole 9 yards. There’s lots of parking and no neighbors, so the patrons could get as loud as they wanted. Also, give it a catchy name, like Lee Harvey’s. (It really exists in Dallas). Maybe call it Ma Duncan’s, as an homage to Santa Barbara’s own Elizabeth Duncan, who was the last woman executed in California. (Google “Elizabeth Duncan Santa Barbara”). There is potential aplenty at this site.
I hope its an Olive Garden.
How about a Hooters?
Hooters is about to declare bankruptcy
What a shame……the Flightline had an enormous amount aviation history , including much local aviation history. The ONLY restaurant with such an incredible collection. The model aircraft were captivating……….Priceless photos….what is going to happen to all of that ?
The Santa Barbara City has really screwed up again at the airport.
I agree that the food at Flightline and High Sierra was awful. They took classic dishes and had to add their special twist to ruin them. They also overcharged the Science and Engineering Council to meet in that cramped room full of obstacles. It is too bad if the flight memorabilia can’t be preserved. Yes, the Elephant Bar was good. We need something like that again.
You can’t mask crappy food & service with some neat aviation history plastered on the walls & hanging from the ceiling. Hah!
Personally, I like that the restaurant is a no-go there. When we’re driving to and from Goleta on that part of Hollister, the light remains green for us because there are no vehicles coming out of that area at the intersection. Move Chick-Fil-A there and get that boondoggle off State St.
Warren Butler is the Donald Trump of failed restaurants in Santa Barbara.
Everyone saying this place has potential. How is that? I mean it’s easy for us all after-the-fact to make recommendations to what would work/not work. But we had the Elephant Bar that was fed by all the defense contractors up the Hollister corridor. That changed. The High Sierra is of the same family that does the SB Golf Course restaurant which is at least very decent. So he knew what he was doing (although maybe executed incorrectly). It seems things went astray because of pure political reasons. This Butler guy vs. the people who administratively run the airport. So again, politics. So what now? Obviously dining out has changed. Goleta in general is a bedroom community and most people dine in. Food habits have changed and become more healthy. Costs of running a restaurant have skyrocketed and especially related to leaseholds. Either way, to me? It just seems a catastrophic and monumental waste to put people through such red tape and political back-and-forth. Apparently, at this point, the only restaurant that will make it there will be a Starbucks. Remember, Goleta is barely holding onto a Chile’s, couldn’t hold an Outback and cannot lure any of the larger chains based on size. I think a BJ’s would be fantastic. There menu is amazing as is their quality assurance. But Goleta is probably just under their ability to take the chance.
If a Hooters wen in there it’d get the business. Who? All the solo travelers coming to SBA for business, college students who are 21, people who do not want to travel to lower State street or the Funk Zone to party, etc. They have the parking, it’s not close to family housing areas, yada, yada.
It’s a shame that the Flightline, which it did not take off the ground, thanks to the evil Empire of the City. I really enjoyed going there for breakfast, cocktails, and appetizers. Strafed before going up in the air.
Wow, that’s pretty messed up. Warren seems like a pretty good guy and well intentioned, he hasn’t to my knowledge engaged in fraud, tax evasion or discrimination, so why would you make such an insulting comparison?