Bonnie Carroll
By Bonnie Carroll
Bristol Farms Market opened in La Cumbre Plaza Santa Barbara on Thursday with a warm welcome to area residents who were happy to shop and peruse the large gourmet grocery and enjoy the many organic and health-conscious options the market is known for.
In the mid-90s I was a reporter covering the Beverly Hills Bristol Farms opening in the former Chasen’s Restaurant location. I was thoroughly impressed with the quality products featured in the sophisticated market that had once been a favorite haunt of major celebrities and political personalities when Maude Chasen was the hostess with the mostess in her renowned dinner spot on Beverly and Doheny Boulevards in West Hollywood.
Every year President Reagan and George Burns would hold their February 14 birthday parties at Chasen’s, and it was rumored that Elizabeth Taylor once paid a fortune to have Chasen’s chili delivered to her at the set of Cleopatra in Rome. People in Beverly Hills embraced the quality food and service of the new gourmet market, where a small section still contains original booths with nostalgic photos of the old Chasen’s where patrons can eat lunch. This market continues to be one of their most successful store locations.
Bakery section
The market in La Cumbre is the very latest design of the company, it is quite large and includes unique food stations, along with a huge inventory of fine wines and liquor products. Everything I saw during my visit looked delicious, and the staff (all in masks and in compliance) could not have been more pleasant.
Denis Lacey, General Manager of the new location, gave me a tour and explained the many take-out food options being offered due to the pandemic. The bakery has an assortment of gorgeous cakes, but I appreciated that you could buy just one piece if you liked, and their beautiful pies can also be purchased in half portions.
The Sushi & Saki area was overflowing with fabulous sushi combinations, and the sandwich bar had people waiting in line at 10:30 a.m. Lacey explained, “we have created a special to-go section for entrees with a manager to facilitate patrons requests during the pandemic… essentially, it is a take-away menu of delicious lunch and dinner dishes.”
To celebrate the opening their steaks were 40% off and people were buying them, including me. Bristol Farms carries so many gourmet and organic choices in just about every food and beverage variety you would want which makes shopping there an exciting learning experience. Everything from gourmet Prosecco Bear candies to exotic cheeses to unique gift items can be found as well as all the usual grocery items people are looking for. I was impressed to see a section spotlighting locally produced products and an exquisite wall of Margerum Wines had been created to highlight the Bristol Farms amazing wine section.
Margerum wine wall
Shoppers who are searching for that elusive ingredient that will complete a culinary recipe and create a masterpiece know they can get it at Bristol Farms. It is the gourmet grocery store that has what chefs and cooks look for. Lacey, who was a manager at Lazy Acres in Santa Barbara for many years, and his staff are welcoming area people to stop by and get to know them and become familiar with their special inventory.
Bristol Farms opened its first store in 1982 in Rolling Hills Estates and was started by Irv Gronsky and Mike Burbank who had worked together in the food industry for almost twenty years. Their vision was to combine the service and food quality of a corner grocer, butcher, and baker with the theatre of Harrods in London. The first store was an overwhelming success. The company added further stores in California. In June 1999, they acquired a famous landmark, Chalet Gourmet in Hollywood.
Local foods section
In 2004, Bristol Farms was purchased by the Albertsons chain and in October 2005, Bristol Farms purchased Santa Barbara-based Lazy Acres. Many believe the independently owned single store Lazy Acres sold to Bristol Farms as a defensive move against Whole Foods’ pending arrival into Santa Barbara. While this is Bristol Farms’ first and only location in Santa Barbara, the 28,000-square-foot Lazy Acres store itself continues operating under its original format. The Long Beach Bristol Farms was converted into a second Lazy Acres in November 2012.
Four former Albertsons locations have been converted into Bristol Farms: One in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, the second location in Palm Desert, which originally opened as Lucky, a third location in the Westchester neighborhood of Los Angeles, and a fourth in Santa Monica.
Shoppers seemed excited about experiencing the new Bristol Farms, and I know that I will be going back soon.
More information about Bristol Farms at the La Cumbre Plaza can be found here.
Bonnie Carroll is a veteran journalist specializing in food, travel, and health. Learn more at lifebitesnews.com.
Judging from this self-aggrandizing puff piece, Bristol Farms appears to be even more expensive and pretentious than I thought it would be. Too bad there isn’t one “family priced” supermarket anywhere on the Northside. But I guess we’ve covered that.
Clearly this is not the store for you Rex. No need to leave a rude comment.
Rex, some people move when their neighborhood gets too run down. Others move, when it gets too upscale. The Goldilocks Equation.
REX, you clearly didn’t note who the author of the piece was. This is just the way Bonnie writes, a gossip columnist who tries to venture out into boosterism in a market pretty much dominated by John “The Palm” Palminteri. Personally I got bored at the telling of Reagan and Burns cavorting at Chasen’s as Beverly Hills’ “Who’s Who” is not my cuppa tea. Kudos to anyone with the fortitude to read on from there.
Rex is spot on here. The idea that we (the special ones) need a special market is anti-egalitarian and snobbish at the end. What is worst is that places like this and Whole Foods and others are exploiting working people to cut their overhead while charging top end prices. Too many of the liberals and progressives I know (as I think I am one of them) refuse to recognize this conflict with their own values. They are willing and even excited to patronize these sorts of businesses (Amazon, Lyft, Uber, Tesla for example) in order to have “the best” for themselves. It is embarrassing.
Why does everything here have to become a class envy thing? This town needs a very wealthy base to support all the free things the city keeps handing out. Thank them. Stop kicking “the rich” in the teeth. Because you do enjoy the benefits they provide; that Oxnard or Santa Maria do not.
SBSAND: Not that it’s really any of your business, but while I technically live in the Alta Mesa area, I do a lot of business at and around the Northside. I like Vons on the Mesa, but it’s tiny and has limited selection. Smart & Final isn’t great if you want non-industrial sizes of things like frozen peas or regular -sized jars of mustard. I usually now shop at Ralphs, just because it’s the only option. Living in a particular neighborhood doesn’t chain you down to having to shop there. Unfortunately for Northsiders, though, the only choice they now have at all involves three of the priciest markets in all of Southern California.
Smart n final has plenty of normal sized portions and they can drive a short distance to get to Vons or Ralph’s. This city is pretty easy to navigate in, I’m sure that people will continue to use the same stores that they were using before the opening of Bristol Farms.
That sounds a bit defensive. Us common folk wish you no harm. I know it’s hard for everyone right now, including the wealthy base that provides us with all that we have. We are grateful, and we are all doing what we can to just get through this hard time, so please don’t be angry.
That doesn’t sound very “Bristol Farmsy”.
Any guesses on how long this store will remain in SB?
RHS I don’t know how you equate Amazon and Lyft etc. with Tesla and this store. You’re sounding little intolerant. Don’t patronize the businesses with whom you have a problem. And Rex, back in the day, my wife and I used to drive, regularly, to Ventura when there was no Trader Joes in SB. And, 420722 a $2.00 apple at Trader Joes is better than a gaggle of Galas at Smart and Final, in my opinion.
Rex, Smart n Final is one block away and Vons and Ralph’s aren’t far either at Turnpike… seriously in this city we have it all and people still aren’t happy!!
What nastiness. And of course, all you naysayers hide behind monikers. First, I enjoyed the long review. But then I like reading substantial well-written articles, something that allows me to take a stroll through the prose, rather than a quick scroll down. Second, we should all be celebrating a store OPENING just now. We are still in the midst of a state-wide shutdown. Many of our beloved stores and restaurants are closed, gone permanently. La Cumbre Plaza is a ghost town, so the addition of this beautiful store should have us all thrilled to welcome her here. At a time when many of our friends and neighbors have lost their jobs and are challenged getting through to the state’s unemployment site, we have a new business with jobs, good jobs. (And for those who snub entry-level, I have this to say: Work hard, learn and go beyond the job description. You will be moving up within 6 months with pretty much any employer. That includes McDonald’s.) I actually visited the store on Friday. It was safe enough that I took my 92 year old husband. It was beautiful and the staff was well-trained, including in their hospitality. Yes, it’s pricey, but not everything. But we do have choices here in Santa Barbara, don’t we. I like to mix-n-match. For me, it’s my weekly treks to Tri-Counties Produce where we all support a local business; as well, our beloved Trader Joe’s. As far as the chain markets — the hell with them. I have avoided them since the union strike of about 15 years ago or so. I recall clearly one statement from an owner, I think the man who owns Kroeger’s. When asked during the strike how he would feel if one of his kids worked in a supermarket and under those conditions, his response: “My kids don’t work in grocery stores.” That ended it for me. I imagine this post is too long for some among you, but frankly, I’m sick to death of the nastiness. The Pandemic has brought out the worst in people. Right now, we must strive to restore civility in the public sphere again. Be kind to others, and stop looking for ulterior motives to suit one’s own political agenda. Amen on this Sunday morning. And welcome to our town, Bristol Farms. I’m happy to call you “neighbor.”
It won’t be my go to store but it will be for Hope Ranch and many others. I don’t shop at Whole Foods either, unless I want special cheese or gluten free dessert, Sprouts for certain things like produce and good steak, Costco for eggs, tp and snacks,,TJs for frozen food, smart n final for frozen veggies and this store will be good for certain things, like top of the line meat I imagine. We seriously do have it all here but not all in one place. Which is ok, variety and choices are good to have. I do miss Vons there but the one at Turnpike is fine.
Great store and when I shopped prices on my routine stuff it is the same or better!!! The choices are amazing and the setting is great. I grew up near a Bristol Farms and yes it is not Smart and Final but if you want quality goods, look no further. Bristol Farms will be a great success here in SB because it feels as though you merged TJ’s, Lazy Acres and Whole Foods together in one central location with great parking. Welcome to SB Bristol Farms!
Upper State has Gelson’s, Whole Foods, and Bristol Farms all competing for the same limited demographic of upscale customers. One of them will not survive.
Looks like a nice store. My only complaint is about the clean up that will be needed when those bottles of wine that are so nicely shelved so high tumble after the next earthquake.
Look sheeple, it’s another chain store selling the same waxed and gassed fruits and veggies. Be thankful we have the farmers markets to shop for real food. No need to hate on em. Just git up off yer duffs and support the farmers and get the benefit of real food, not factory food.
A remarkable amount of negativity and nastiness in this comment section. I love the new market and am so glad to have yet another wonderful place to shop for food in town. Cooking at home is one of the few activities we can still do during COVID so I am very happy to have another option for sourcing ingredients. I will continue to buy my produce and even some of my meat from our local farmers via the farmers market, but the naysayers should also be aware Bristol has made a point of carrying local products, too. We got some lovely Robitaille’s mints from the store. They carry Santa Barbara Pistachios, and many other local brands. The interior is light and bright and makes shopping a joy. We have dozens of new jobs staffed by wonderful and friendly people and it’s a new option for those who want high quality and organic food but don’t want to support Jeff Bezos. If you don’t want to shop there, then don’t shop there! No one is forcing you!
Look at that wine display! Come on it’s just booze! How much am I gonna owe them if I stumble in there blacked out drunk and stumble headfirst into that thing?!
This. Give us a break, it’s been a difficult adjustment to lose the Ralph’s on De la Vina & then Vons in La Cumbre. When I was caring for my parents, Ralph’s was in between my place and theirs, which made all our lives easier. And I grew up a few blocks from La Cumbre Plaza. I don’t remember the dairy, but I do have a memory of being on the dirt lot that is now Robinson’s. Oops. I mean Mays, or whatever the heck is the correct name. I don’t care how you belittle complainers. If you were in our shoes, you’d probably say something about it too. $3 avocados? HAH! never. I’ll find a tree and buy some from the resident owner.
And Smart & Final at 5 Points!
Thank You for making that point! It is NOT a GROCERY STORE. I shopped there about twice a month before events beyond my control took over. My favoritte was Cedar Lane frozen foods, decent breakfast cereals, and lots of canned veg & fruit. And candy! 🙂
It’s a nice grocery store. Every store we have around here is a bit different and yes, that’s great for shoppers. If it’s too high end for some, they can certainly go elsewhere. Given SB’s numbers of mid to high income players I really doubt any of these upscale grocers will go out of business. In fact, competition is good. Perhaps their prices will stay competitive. And yeah, just like someone said – their service is very good, way better than Whole Foods I can tell you that, and the employees that work hard and do their jobs well will move up and prosper. Those that don’t try and always act sour feeling sorry for themselves will not.
Rex: Don’t worry about what everyone is saying as your points are well taken. I remember all of the folks who were up in arms when Ralph’s turned into a Grocery Outlet. I was very familiar with Ralph’s and Grocery Outlet (years ago it was called “Canned Food Warehouse”). Grocery Outlet is not a grocery store, as is expressed in the name “outlet.” It’s a “Ross Dress for Less”, but only for groceries and other highly discounted items. One of the best finds I’ve ever found was a case of beer (24 cans) for $3.99, an off-brand, but it was just fine (I’ve been-there-done-that with beer in: Belgium, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Czech Republic, Denmark, Sweden, China, Italy, Mexico, Costa Rica, Argentina, etc. etc…..46 US states, the list goes on and on).
Rex I thought you live on the Westside? Does this really impact you at all anyways?
All these special names for pieces of the Westside and Upper State, etc. You live on the westside and are closer to downtown stores than to this one, it shouldn’t even IMPACT you at all so that doesn’t explain your strong criticism…. but if it is within your routine to drive that far to shop then you will not limit the folks in that area to shop there, you should also give them permission to shop outside their own neighborhood and frequent one of our many other wonderful stores. You crack me up.
Eh I think it’s good to have choices. I rarely shop at WF (the parking lot sucks). I have, however, found them to have good quality food and SOME of their foods are very affordable. There are a handful of things that I like to buy there because I can get a better price than elsewhere (some items from the bulk bins, back when we could do that? and jarred tahini…) A jar of tahini, however, lasts me 6 months, so I don’t go often.
With COVID, my normal “shop around for the best prices” is out the window, anyway. So it’s 60% my local Vons, 30% Costco, and 10% “other” (Target, Trader Joe’s). I get my produce from the farmer’s market via Local Harvest Delivery.
Talk about kitchen table issues, 57 and counting comments about the opening of a single grocery store in Santa Barbara, which most of the posters have not even visited. Nor intend to visit. Politicians take note – food prices is where the rubber really hits the road in this town. Overlooking the fact that local environmental sympathies have a direct cause and effect on food production efficiencies and costs. Attack ag production in this state, and then complain about rising food prices? One more self-inflicted disconnect. No wonder blunt-speaking pragmatists grow in political appeal everywhere. Here is where we need to go and here is how we will get there. If you want lower food prices, stop setting up so many artificial and ideological barriers.
I’m sure we will all follow your advice that starts out by calling us a name. That’s the kind of leader we love!
Haha do you NOT see that is what you said about the people that live in that neighborhood? I was just reversing it to apply to you. That is why you are hysterical, well part of why…
Yeah, stop setting up so many barriers like preventing people from spaying toxic chemicals on the food you eat, controlling the amount of groundwater they pump, and other snowflake actions. Ask Peter Adam, a little ecoli never hurt anyone, except for the people it did.
As a frequent shopper at Lazy Acres, Whole Foods, Tri-County Produce and the various farmers’ markets, I’m okay with Bristol Farms opening up and giving me another alternative. I shopped there this morning for the first time, as a trial run, and liked the size of the store, the cleanliness and the helpful/polite employees. We are lucky in that we don’t have to scrimp and save for groceries, so I’ll be back. The worst part for me is the location — I hate going to La Cumbre Plaza.