Santa Barbara’s iconic Harbor Restaurant has settled a dispute with the city of Santa Barbara over lease terms.
The two entities issued a joint news release on Tuesday.
“Today, the city of Santa Barbara and The Harbor Restaurant resolved their disputes about the
past and agreed to move forward together working toward a brighter future for the restaurant,
the City, Stearns Wharf, locals, visitors, and all those who love what makes Santa Barbara the
most incredible place to live, work, and play,” according to the statement.
The settlement resolves outstanding disputes, including payment of past due rent and restructuring of lease terms, to allow the Harbor Restaurant to continue its rehabilitation and rebuilding process and ensure the successful redevelopment of the property, according to the statement.
“We settled our lawsuits with the City during a 9-hour mediation that saw a great deal of
cooperation and commitment by all involved,” Thyne said in a statement. “The City and the owners of The Harbor Restaurant were able to resolve outstanding rent, credits for improvements, additional improvements, and reached agreements regarding ongoing rent pending a new lease with options that guarantee the City will receive market rent for the property.”
Thyne is an attorney and one of the owners of The Harbor Restaurant, along with partners, Olesya Thyne, Eugenio Sanchez, and Carolina Jimenez.
“We believe this settlement represents a new beginning for The Harbor Restaurant and we look
forward to ensuring the public is served not only by guaranteeing market rent is collected for the
premises, but also ensuring a first-class restaurant is available in this Stearns Wharf location
seven days per week,” City Administrator Kelly McAdoo. “We are excited at the number of new business owners investing in the Waterfront District and are eager to partner with The Harbor and others to ensure we maintain a vibrant and thriving business community at Stearns Wharf, the Marina, and the Harbor.”
