Readers tell me that Urkeb, a fast casual kebap restaurant that opened at 413 State Street in August 2017, has closed.
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No surprise – absolutely barren block of State with little sign of improvement. Bring back Pace!
Little sign of improvement? There is major (and surely expensive) development just across the street for the new Modern Times partnership with the owners of Good Lion and Barbareño.
There is also a new home goods store opening up on the corner of State and Gutierrez called Habitat Home and Garden which will be a nice addition to the block.
I ate there once, and although the owner was super friendly and the prices relatively reasonable, the food was just nothing to write home about. Trust me, the mac and cheese place down there has no trouble doing a brisk business – you just have to offer something that people want to eat regularly…
There is also a new home goods store opening up on the corner of State and Gutierrez called Habitat Home and Garden which will be a nice addition to the block.
Pete is right the space at 418 State St will change that block for the better.
Urkeb was a great spot, hate to see that place close. Wonder if they could have held on for a few months as Modern Times got going if that would have made a difference?!?
Sad to see, they had great food at good prices.
Urkeb it is!
https://www.santabarbara.com/dining/news/2017/08/07/urkeb-brings-the-doner-kebap-downtown/#comments
Urkeb was doomed from the start. It’s an interesting food item, however at the same time a relatively unfamiliar one trick pony; the Döner. One trick ponies are difficult to pull off in SB. How often would you eat a Döner, and then ask how often would you drink a well made craft beer (Topa Topa, Hollister, Firestone), or a slice of great pizza (Ginos Sicilian Express), an authentic noodle bowl (Empty Bowl) or ramen (Nikka Ramen).
Now the question is, how much longer can the Drunken Crab financially sustain a near empty seat every day restaurant in prime rental priced State Street? How can they not be operating at a loss. Perhaps more operating cash than the short lived, woeful and same themed, “Drunken Shrimp” restaurant that preceded it. How often would you eat shellfish slathered in messy sauce served with plastic gloves over a messy saucy table?
I thought it was “Killer Shrimp”? I love shellfish but neither restaurant sounded good to me.
We need viable Rent Control to keep greed from strangling States Street’s economy.
I would’ve eaten there a lot, but I just didn’t like flavors of their meats that much. I preferred the gyros at Greek House Cafe.