Santa Barbara Arts to Close After 18 Years
By edhat staff
After 18 years, the owner of Santa Barbara Arts is closing up shop and retiring.
Located in the courtyard of Downtown Santa Barbara's La Arcada plaza, this arts and craft store has been the go-to location for handmade gifts by local artists. You could buy anything from unique gem jewelry to books by local authors and Ashleigh Brilliant's potshots (arguably the first-ever meme on paper).
The Independent's Tyler Hayden recently wrote a story on the uniqueness of this store saying there is "literally something for everyone."
Longtime edhat readers will remember this store as edhat's unofficial headquarters where one could buy edhat T-shirts and enjoy the annual March Edness party.
Santa Barbara Arts owner Lynn Adams
"After many challenges and changes downtown, I have decided to retire. SB Arts has had a good long run for 18 years and survived many ups and downs. The past 2 years have turned things around for us making it impossible to continue year-round. It’s no secret the times are changing," said owner Lynn Adams.
The store is expected to close at the end of January 2022. In the meantime, they are offering sales and incentives to liquidate their inventory as well as fixtures and displays.
"I am so grateful to all of the loyal locals who kept the store going for 18 years. A huge hug to my angels on TV Hill who saved the store in 2005. Huge Thanks to Peter Sklar who started EdHat and who put me on Twitter in the early days when we were both embarking on new business adventures. All the Edhat parties we hosted…so many great memories. What a fun ride," said Adams.
From all of us at edhat, thank you Lynn for being one of our longest supporters, we'll miss your store!
Visit sbarts.net for more information.
10 Comments
-
-
-
Jan 09, 2022 10:07 AMSuch a disappointing start to the New Year! Lynn, you have saved me on so many occasions, birthdays, anniversaries, holidays..you were there for me. What is happening at thet tenancy? This is the 4th business in one year to close, I don't know of any other one commercial collaborative with the same mortality? Back in the heyday it used to be the place to rent...best landlords, prime art's location...I am sure this had nothing to do with State Street Promenade, or from change in property owners. But, then again with no mortgage on the property, to get rid of 4 long term below market leases...opens the doors for millions more to flow in with a rent increase when the market turns around. Thank you for everything old friend...we will come by to show our gratitude!
-
-
2
-
Jan 02, 2022 10:49 PMSorry, but didn't even know it existed.
-
-
-
Jan 02, 2022 11:17 AMNOOOOO! This is such sad news! We really need more stores with local artist's work in them. The void from Plum Goods was bad enough, now this. NO. So sad.
-
-
-
Jan 01, 2022 09:10 PMAmazing store. Had a blast at an edhat party awhile back
-
2
-
-
Jan 01, 2022 05:35 PMThis is one of my favorite stores. It is/was always carefully curated and wonderfully merchandised. This is a huge loss for the city and the "Santa Barbara experience".
-
2
-
-
Jan 01, 2022 04:20 PMA very sad day, indeed. One of the very few true art stores in the SB area where you can buy fine art at reasonable prices. Unfortunately, too many artists in this town often end up selling their art to friends and family who want it. So many local artists are forced to sell their trinkets, photos, "art", and wares along the waterfront to tourists who simply want to bring "something" back from their trip to SB. Not sure how some of them make it along the beach.
-
1
-
-
Jan 02, 2022 11:18 AMI don't know how they make it there either. SO many lookie-loos who don't buy and a huge huge fee just to participate. It's a grind. I wish we had more local stores with room for our local artists and creatives to showcase their work.
-
-
-
Jan 01, 2022 01:33 PMI'm shaking my head..."No, I don't believe this!"
-
3
-
-
Jan 01, 2022 12:52 PMWill be missed, terribly. The most interesting store downtown, with good vibes. Now, we are left with none! What a void. Gotta go to SLO or even Solvang to have fun while shopping for something unique that supports artists. Wishing her well.
-
2
-
-
Jan 01, 2022 11:29 AMI’m very sorry to hear this. It’s such a fun store, with a great variety of handmade items. A little bit like a year-round Yes store, but with even more variety.