Noozhawk: BizHawk: ‘Axe-citing Times’ Coming to State Street With New Santa Barbara Axe Club

Parts of State Street might be lagging, but Santa Barbara’s iconic main drag certainly isn’t boring.

Not when you have a place to throw axes.

The State Street Axe Club is coming to 427 State St. in June.

It will have 12 axe-throwing lanes that come with instructors, games and a variety of axes to throw.

The business is the brainchild of entrepreneur Brett Michaelson.

“This is something I feel is needed out here,” Michaelson told Noozhawk. “There’s not too much entertainment and really nothing to do past 8 p.m. but go out for drinks.”

The place will be a good spot for hanging out with friends, or date night, he said.

“Axe-throwing is fun, competitive and addicting and we look forward to some ‘axe-citing’ fun here on State Street,” Michaelson said.

State Street Retail

The axe club will fill a vacant storefront on State Street in downtown Santa Barbara, which has struggled in recent years with business retention.

According to Radius Group’s first-quarter commercial real estate report, State Street has 37 storefronts available for lease, which is fewer than the 40 reported one year ago.

The 900 block of State Street has the most vacant storefronts listed, with nine, followed by the 400 block with six, according to Radius Group.

The first quarter of 2022 also saw a flurry of commercial space sales with 30, which is the most in five years.

UCLA health purchased 309 West Quinto St. for $3.88 million; The Kimpton Goodland Hotel sold for $33 million; and a 200,000-square-foot commercial office building at 315-346 Bollay Dr. in Goleta sold for $50.7 million.

“Fifty percent of Q1 sales were completed off-market (37% in Q4 2021), a trend due in large part to the high demand and lack of inventory, and strong buyers putting properties under contract before they hit the open market,” Radius states in its report. “Again, investors led the way taking down 19 of the 30 transactions, with owner-users completing 11.”

Hotels and hospitality businesses are still hot, as evidenced also by the recent media reports that the Ritz-Carlton Bacara hotel has also sold.

Overall for commercial property sales, there’s record high demand and low inventory.

“There are some headwinds that will test the market moving forward,” according to Radius.

“The recent uptick in interest rates has sidelined some buyers and left some properties on the market for longer periods. While quality properties priced correctly are still being snapped up quickly (sometimes with overbids) by cash buyers not fazed by the current lending atmosphere, we may see a lag effect in how the market responds to rising interest rates and other economic uncertainties.”

Mangione’s Italian Ice Opens

It’s been a long wait, but State Street has some new ice cream options.

Mangione’s Italian Ice opened this week, according to the company’s social media accounts.

At 1222 State St., the shop is open Monday through Thursday from noon to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 7 p.m.

Goleta Valley Optical Moves

Previously inside the Magnolia Shopping Center, Goleta Valley Optical has moved down the street to the Turnkpike Shopping Center.

You can find the new, larger space at 4850 Hollister Ave.

It’s among the new businesses moving into the Turnpike Shopping Center, including Lighthouse Coffee.

Wine Trolley Returns

The Santa Maria Valley Wine Trolley will return to business in the Santa Maria Valley beginning Friday.

The trolley company suspended service in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“For an advance purchase price of just $15 per person, and $18 per person at the trolley, visitors and locals alike can hop aboard the Wine Trolley, starting at Costa de Oro Winery, and explore the beautiful Santa Maria Valley,” the company said in a statement.

“The entire route takes approximately 60 minutes, and allows passengers to step on and off at their convenience.”