Now, for some good news about State Street.

Niko Heliotis and brothers Dimitri and Panayioti Trembois opened the Nick the Greek restaurant on Wednesday, at the former site of the Natural Cafe at 508 State St. in Santa Barbara.

“This felt perfect to us,” franchise owner Heliotis told Noozhawk. “I can’t ask for anything more.”

Heliotis spoke with Noozhawk on Thursday afternoon. It was the first time all week, he said, that he was able to sit down and catch a rest after a whirlwind rush to open and then massive public response, with a line stretching down the block.

Nick the Greek got its start in San Jose and as a company plans to open 25 new restaurants in 2024, reaching 100 across the nation.

Heliotis decided to open the franchise in Santa Barbara because he remembered the days when his father would bring him to town and walk State Street. Originally from Los Gatos/Campbell near San Jose, he left a corporate job to start the restaurant.

The menu includes beef, chicken and pork gyros, pitas, falafels, and American hamburgers and fries.

“The cuisine itself is something that for a lot of Greeks, for those who have visited Greece, a piece of that first bite to eat,” Heliotis said.

He goes to Greece once a year and looks forward to eating the food.

“Most people are kind of waiting that 11 months of the year before going back to eat it all over again; for me personally, this kind of fills that gap in that response,” Heliotis said.

Nick the Greek opens amid Santa Barbara’s efforts to transform State Street through a grand master plan effort. While some retail outlets have struggled since the city closed downtown to vehicles, many restaurants, including many on the 500 block of State Street, have boomed.

“Just seeing the bar scene, the restaurant scene, from the 400 to the 600 block, for us really seemed like the place to be,” Heliotis said. “When we came to visit, with all the founders, this particular spot, we were all in agreement that this exact spot would be the one we would want to open it in.”

The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, visit nickthegreek.com.

Ethnic Breads Opens in Goleta

Ethnic Breads Bakery opened a retail shop April 10 at 137 Aero Camino in Goleta.

“From humble beginnings to becoming the largest wholesale bakery in the Tri-Counties, we’ve stayed true to our roots while constantly striving for excellence,” the company said in an Instagram post. “Today, our handcrafted artisanal breads grace the tables of over 120 restaurants and hotels.”

The company was founded in 1985 by Sheldon Kaganoff and baker Peter Zadeh.

The bakery is open from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.

Michael Yang Receives New Certification

Michael Yang has become a certified financial planner for Arlington Financial Advisors in Santa Barbara.

He previously was a paraplanner with the company.

“Professionals must accrue thousands of hours of experience, and meet comprehensive education, training and ethical standards,” according to a news release. “They must commit to serving the best interests of their clients to prepare them for a more secure tomorrow.”

Yang is a graduate of UC Santa Barbara and holds a bachelor’s degree in psychological and brain sciences. His responsibilities include holistic financial planning, including estate, insurance, investment and retirement planning; investment and portfolio management; and data management.

Transient Occupancy Taxes Still Dropping

Santa Barbara collected $2.3 million in transient occupancy taxes in March.

For the fiscal year, the hotel bed taxes are 4.2% below budget.

The city has taken in $23.3 million so far this year; about $21.4 million came from hotels and $1.9 million from short-term vacation rentals, according to a city news release.