Mattei’s Tavern purchase not
a harbinger of change
The
recent purchase of Mattei’s Tavern and adjacent
property in Los Olivos by an East Coast developer does
not portend closure of Brothers Restaurant, a popular eatery that occupies a
part of the tavern, according to a spokesman for the developer.
The
Santa Ynez Valley Journal recently spoke to Ward Bourdeaux,
one of the partners in Santa Rita Land & Vine LLC, the development company
that recently purchased the property of Mattei’s
Tavern and the adjacent piece of property in Los Olivos.
Bourdeaux, based in Atlanta,
discussed the plans that the partnership has for this historic location. Santa
Ynez Land & Vine LLC is one of several limited partnerships in which Scenique Properties, a developer of luxury resorts,
participates.
With
developments of Meadowood in Napa to resorts in Hana, Maui and Mexico, Bourdeaux
stated that with the help of partner Charles Banks who owns property locally,
the company will “through his relationships…sit down and a lot of folks to work
closely with the community.”
Bourdeaux stressed that the
partnership was interested in maintaining the character of the property through
its 123-year history since it was established by Swiss immigrant Felix Mattei as a stop on the narrow gauge railroad that served
the valley.
Although
Bourdeaux noted that the partnership is “just getting
started” with this project they wanted to meet with locals and gain an
understanding how to best work with the community to make the resort a good fit
with the neighborhood.
“We
want to bring the property back to the way it was when Felix Mattei developed his tavern. We want to build correctly…and
see that it fits architecturally with the neighborhood and with its historical
roots,” said Bourdeaux.
The
Brothers Restaurant has been operating at Mattei’s
Tavern since 2000 and Bourdeaux said that, “I’d love
to have the Brothers Restaurant continue.”
Bourdeaux noted that the cottage type hotel
blends in well with the theme and history of the property.