Giovanni’s Pizza, which departed Goleta in April 2008, is making a comeback. Reader Eric M. let me know that the eatery, which has locations on upper State Street and in Carpinteria, will be coming to the Goleta Shopping Center, home of Target. The address will be 6831-B Hollister Avenue, just to the right of Sam’s To Go, which is the former home Lucky Dragon that closed in September 2020. I spoke with Giovanni’s flagship location and they confirmed the news and said that they are hoping to open in July 2025.

On a side note, last July I wrote that Pickles & Swiss would be moving to this same exact Hollister Avenue address next year, so apparently the deli’s plans have changed. Their website still says that a new Goleta location is in the works, after having recently closed their Goleta spot next to Smart & Final.