Last year I wrote that the old firehouse in Montecito’s upper village is going to become a Restoration Hardware (RH) Gallery that will include a restaurant. While checking out Alma yesterday I stopped by the old firehouse and it was a beehive of construction. The interior is stripped to the studs with no coverings on the walls or ceiling. I estimate that the opening date will be early next year. When my family moved to Montecito in 1969 (our home cost $42,000 which was a significant premium over Santa Barbara prices at the time), this was our fire station and I took a few tours of it with my class at Montecito Union School. The fire station moved to San Ysidro Road in 1996.