Beauty store Sephora is bringing its popular, high-quality brand to a State Street storefront. The large, national retail store is moving soon from Santa Barbara’s Paseo Nuevo to 733 State St. in the Balboa building. The space was previously occupied by Vuori and Athleta.
Sephora is one of the most popular stores in Paseo Nuevo, and relocating to a storefront is likely to serve as another attraction for people to visit downtown.
The closure of several blocks of State Street to vehicles has helped restaurants because they have been able to expand their outdoor dining, but retail stores have seen fewer benefits amid the flurry of people on e-bikes who currently dominate the street.
According to Hayes Commercial Group, five retail properties on State Street, between the 300 and 1300 blocks, changed hands in 2024. Overall, 22 companies leased space last year.
In the final quarter of 2024, major leases on the State Street retail corridor included Art & Soul Gallery at 1323 State St., Art Essentials at 1207 State St., Lighthouse Skate Shop at 907 State St. and Rolld Ice Cream at 819-A State St. in Paseo Nuevo, according to Hayes’ fourth-quarter report. State Street’s storefront vacancy rate decreased from 13.7% to 12.9% from 2023 to 2024, according to Hayes.
Goleta Shopping Center Buildings Sold
Major changes are in store for the Target Shopping Center in Goleta. Noozhawk reported recently that the entire strip of stores on side of the center will undergo facade renovations, and new tenants will be coming in. Some businesses have already left, and it is unclear who is staying, but the spaces are being marketed by the company online.
Across the parking lot, the retail/office buildings from 250 to 270 Storke Road were purchased by a local investor in the fourth quarter for $10.5 million, according to Hayes Commercial Group.
Hayes also reported that Rusty’s Pizza is moving into 6583 Pardall Road in Isla Vista.