Santa Barbara’s Public Market has had a sense of community during FIFA World Cup games.
Since the first game of the World Cup, the Public Market has seen an influx of people and has been filled from front to back.
The Public Market has been a space where many feel honored or connected while watching the games. The market was packed on Sunday for the Mexico vs. England nailbiter of a game.
“It’s really unique and fun to see the whole community come together for all these different regions,” said Travis Twining, owner of the market.
Twining said that he anticipated it to be busy, but not how packed it’s been, to the point where many soccer fans have come two hours before their game just to secure a table.
However, since they prepared for it to be busy during World Cup season, some businesses had more people come in for shifts. The market even bought more TVs and opened its event center to accommodate more people.
“It’s been absolutely amazing for the community to have that gathering space and be able to go with all their friends in such large groups,” Twining said.
Both Twining and Public Market Manager Natalie Ramos noticed a major increase in sales between businesses.
The public market showcases many foods from a wide variety of places.
Twining said he’s noticed that when a specific team plays, businesses that serve the country’s food have a surplus in sales.
“We have Seoulmate Kitchen in the back, which is just Korean food,” Twining said. “And when Korea was playing, we saw a huge upswing in Korean food sales.”
With the ongoing discussions about State Street, Ramos has felt the market has something the community has been wanting or waiting for.
“I think the market has an element of a local place where there’s something for everybody,” Ramos said.
Since the 2022 World Cup, businesses inside have changed or been added, including Twining’s ownership being freshly new at that time.
For this World Cup, one of the main focuses was for everyone to feel included and welcomed.
The market hung up every country’s flags before the World Cup began, put up colored balloons of the countries playing that day and gave out colored necklaces.
“Even just in our building and just the people who work there, we have so many different ethnicities,” Ramos said. “We just wanted everyone to feel a part of it.”
As the quarterfinals approach, Twining has recommended coming early, grabbing some food, a beverage and relaxing.
“Come several hours early, get their spot and get their orders in,” Twining said. “Because it’s been that busy [that] every game we had on, it just packs the house.”
