Esau’s to Return in Spring
Legendary Cafe Reopening Under Same Management
Esau’s, a breakfast cafe beloved of locals for 52 years when it was located on lower State Street, is moving closer to reopening with the appointment of JM Holliday Associates to design the cafe’s 1,500 square foot interior. The architecture and interior design firm is based in Santa Barbara and Michael Holliday will head the project, which will feature artwork by retro-surf artist Rick Sharp, along with vintage and contemporary boards. Construction is due to start at the end of January, with a projected opening date in April.
The cafe will be located in the recently completed Paseo Chapala Building directly across the street from the Paseo Nuevo Mall. Scott and Arti Stanley, who ran the State Street restaurant for 28 years, and who opened Esau’s on Linden Avenue in Carpinteria five years ago, said the classic breakfast menu will be the same as ever, for the most part. However, since the cafe won a liquor license in the lottery, lunch and dinner are in the process of being revamped. Esau’s on State Street closed when its lease was not renewed, for reasons best known to landowner Abe Safina. After more than a year, its former site is still vacant.
