Santa Barbara Public Market Opens Doors

The Santa Barbara Public Market recently opened after nearly six years of planning and two years of construction, according to an article in the Santa Barbara Independent. 

Marge Cafarelli, who purchased an old Vons grocery story building in 2008 and broke ground in June 2012 on the entire Alma del Pueblo development – which includes 37 luxury condos and a few other retail shops that are yet to open – modeled the Public Market part of the project on San Francisco’s Ferry Building and Pike Place Market in Seattle. 

“Santa Barbara is a city that has a very rich tradition of agriculture, farming and wine, and is really becoming known for all of these great artisan producers,” Cafarelli told the Independent. “We wanted to do a full grocery experience that represented this time.”

The 15,200-square-foot space is a collection of 15 individual businesses, from pasta makers and bread and cupcake bakers to a seafood shop, boutique butcher, olive oil emporium, cheesemonger and a wine-and-beer bar. Foragers Pantry, the largest tenant at 2,200 square feet, offers housewares and household items along with groceries.

The Santa Barbara Public Market is open every day 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.