Macy’s closing at La Cumbre Plaza in 2028

Soon the iconic Macy’s building in La Cumbre Plaza in Santa Barbara is expected to close in the year 2028 for a new large-scale housing unit. “It sucks that it’s gonna be destroyed for some homes,” said Sofia Villalva, a Santa Barbara resident who thinks the closing of the store is a bittersweet thing. “I’ve been coming here for the past four years with my mom. We came so often that she got a job there for fulfillment.” Due to Macy’s closing, Villalva’s Mom, Martha Diaz Dorado, will lose her job to The Neighborhood, the 700-unit housing project developers plan to build on the La Cumbre Plaza property. The project aims to create a community that’s complete with residential units, dining, parks, and public areas. “Necesitamos más casas para que la gente viva, pero no estoy seguro de lo fácil que será para mí conseguir un trabajo cuando cierre. (We need more houses for people to live in, but I’m not sure how easy it will be for me to get a job when it closes,)” Dorado said. The Neighborhood Project is helping us get a step closer to solving Santa Barbara’s housing shortage while also making La Cumbre Plaza more modern. Residents of Santa Barbara have tried to make Macy’s a historic landmark in order to stop the closing of the store by bringing up the fact that the building has been around since the post-World War II retail, but the attempt was unsuccessful due to the fact the building has little historical significance. One thing that is clear, as Macy’s gets ready to close its Santa Barbara location, is that to many residents it’s more than just a shopping center. It’s a place filled with many memories and items for locals. While the future development may promise new opportunities for housing and community spaces, the nostalgia tied to Macy’s will ensure that it remains an enduring part of Santa Barbara’s rich history.

[Macy’s closing at La Cumbre Plaza in 2028. Image credit: Teresa Hernandez]