The longtime Goleta restaurant Home Plate Grill has announced it will permanently close later this month.
The restaurant’s final day of operation will be March 31, 2026, ending nearly a decade in business after opening in 2016, the restaurant announced on its Facebook page.
Home Plate Grill’s owners thanked customers for their support and the friendships formed over the years. “Serving you has meant so much to us, and we are grateful for every visit, meal, and memory shared here,” the announcement read.
Home Plate Grill to Remain Open Until March End
The restaurant will remain open until March 31 before closing permanently, marking nearly 10 years at the Goleta location.
Home Plate Grill is located at 7398 Calle Real, Suite C in Goleta’s Padre Shopping Center, behind a 7-Eleven.
Over the years, the restaurant served as a neighborhood dining spot for local residents and visitors.
Home Plate Grill decided not to renew its lease at the Padre Shopping Center due to challenges within the current market, the restaurant owners confirmed.
While the landlords were open to negotiations, the owners decided to close the restaurant, with its final day of service scheduled for March 31.
Roundin’ Third, a nearby bar operated by the same owners, is expected to remain open.
About Home Plate Grill
Home Plate Grill opened in 2016 as a casual, family-oriented restaurant run by longtime Goleta locals, serving classic American comfort food.
The menu included burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, soups, salads, and breakfast dishes, with both dine-in and take-out service available.
Head chef and owner Ken Johnston grew up in Goleta and graduated from Dos Pueblos High School before returning to open the restaurant in his hometown.
The restaurant was intended to serve as a neighborhood dining spot centered on familiar comfort food.
Other Restaurant Closures in Santa Barbara
Home Plate Grill is not the only restaurant that announced its closures. Recent months saw several eateries being shut down or in the process of closing down.
Most recently, Rincon Brewery announced the closing of its Santa Barbara location in the Funk Zone. In a social media post, the establishment noted that its last operating day was on March 1, 2026.
The brewery described the change as “bittersweet” and thanked its customers for the memories shared at the pub. Rincon Brewery, however, noted that its locations in Carpinteria and Ventura will remain open.
Earlier in January, Santa Barbara Food Connection shut down its North Milpas Street restaurant after serving the community for more than three years. The team shared the news on Instagram, thanking customers for their support. The business will continue operating through its Downtown Eats spot on State Street, catering services, and food trailers across the area.
[Ed Note: This article has been updated with clarification on the closure by the restaurant’s owners.]
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awe that sucks….they had really good food there. some of their sandwiches were very unique.
This is such a bummer. They have one of the best breakfasts in town in my opinion. Huge variety and everything tastes great. My kids have been hanging out there after school and after games for years. It was truly a local’s place, just like they intended.
Once again though, greedy landlords force local businesses to close and deprive our community of a one of a kind place to eat, work and just hang out. A true local gem being priced out of business by an out of town landlord. Screw them.
I urge folks to get out here while you can and grab some chile colorado breakfast burritos while you can!
It’s a difficult time to own a restaurant. Inflation is up, cost of living is up, food prices are up and will continue to go up because of Trump’s wars and gas prices. Independently owned restaurants are going to continue to suffer.