SANTA BARBARA, CA — In one of only three South Coast commercial sales exceeding $10 million in 2025, the adjacent downtown properties at 530 Chapala Street and 25 West Cota Street sold to an investor in the fourth quarter. Kristopher Roth and Caitlin Hensel, principals at Hayes Commercial Group, represented the seller.
Formerly occupied by Honey Sciences (PayPal), the two creative office buildings anchor prominent corner locations and span Cota Street from Chapala to Fig. While architecturally distinct, both reflect the area’s historic character: 530 Chapala is an iconic Spanish Revival building, and 25 West Cota is a classic warehouse structure dating to 1915, paying homage to its former life as the Hendry Brothers Blacksmith and Welding Shop. Both buildings were rebuilt from the ground up in 2017, delivering state-of-the-art commercial infrastructure and interiors while preserving their traditional façades.
“Well-located, high-caliber commercial assets in downtown Santa Barbara never go out of style,” said Roth. “Properties that offer this kind of quality, visibility, and long-term viability remain highly sought after.”
530 Chapala Street is a two-story building at the high-traffic corner of Chapala and Cota streets, with approximately 100 feet of frontage on each. Formerly home to Dal Pazzo Tires, the property now features a thoughtfully designed creative office buildout and previously housed Honey Sciences (PayPal).
25 West Cota Street, also formerly occupied by Honey Sciences (PayPal), is a three-story building offering a mix of office and collaborative space across three levels, along with elevator access, secure on-site parking, and a rooftop patio with views toward the Mesa and Riviera.
The buyer and seller were not disclosed.
To learn more about other commercial real estate opportunities, contact Kristopher Roth or Caitlin Hensel.