Brass Bear Is Opening an Uptown Branch

••• N. spotted a notice that Funk Zone favorite Brass Bear Brewing is taking over Café Stella (on Las Positas, between Gelson’s and the Santa Barbara Golf Club). Someone at Brass Bear told me the space will be used as a second location and for events. And apparently Stella Mare, on Los Patos Way, isn’t going anywhere.

••• Noozhawk has more on Fresco Cafe‘s upcoming move to E. Canon Perdido: “When the rent reached $21,000 a month, Fresco Cafe owner Mark Brouillard knew it was time to let go. […] Per the property owner, Brouillard has to close Fresco in Five Points by Aug. 31. Brouillard hopes to open the new Fresco on Canon Perdido Street by that date or shortly thereafter.”

••• L. noticed that a Japanese restaurant called Kaz has taken over the former Vegan GreenGo* space on Upper State—a bold choice, with Sun Sushi just a few doors down. Could the proprietor be Kaz Sato, whose Kai Sushi appears to have closed recently? I couldn’t find anything online about Kaz (the restaurant)—the restaurant may or may not be open, as it still has vegan posters on the walls—and Kai’s phone is no longer in service. (*Was that a play on “gringo?” I never realized….)

••• From Coast Range in Solvang: “We’ll be launching a new concept in September at the beloved Succulent space. We’ve invited the entire Succulent staff to stay on board, as we know they’re excellent!” More info to come….

••• Also in Solvang: “A building that housed a bank at 1714 Mission Drive could become home to an Italian market and deli under a plan by developer Ed St. George. […] St. George also has submitted multiple proposals for a 75-unit hotel and an apartment building with 45 micro units on the site of the former Solvang Lumberyard at the eastern entrance to the city. That application continues to move through the staff process.” —Noozhawk

••• It took far too long, but I finally got around to trying the famous smash burger at Third Window Brewing—and it was as good as people say. In an effort to increase the healthfulness, I went for the version with lettuce and tomato, and my husband tried the one with Red Hen Cannery‘s tomato jam, which he loves. But we both decided that next time we’ll just stick with the basic model, because everything else just gets in the way. P.S. We showed up right at noon, when Third Window opens, and had to wait in line as a result; the line was gone by the time we left. So maybe it’s better to go a bit later?

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