The largest store in downtown Santa Barbara is set to close permanently, as part of a coronavirus-triggered restructuring by the chain that runs it.
Clothing retailer Nordstrom is closing 16 of its 117 full line department stores, including its longtime store in the Paseo Nuevo shopping center. The stores have been closed by the coronavirus shutdown since mid-March.
The store opened 30 years ago as part of a huge redevelopment project which created the mall.
The news of the closure is only adding to downtown Santa Barbara’s current economic problems. The mall’s other major anchor store, Macy’s, closed three years ago.
The closure will leave Nordstrom with one full service store in the region, at The Oaks mall in Thousand Oaks.
