Help us Rebuild!

Help Save Cookie Plug Santa Barbara – We Need a New Home!

From Annette Rodriguez, Owner & Proud Santa Barbara Local❤️

fi riends, family, and our amazing Santa Barbara community,

My name is Annette Rodriguez, and I’m the owner of Cookie Plug Santa Barbara—a fun, family- ❤️and dog-friendly cookie store that opened its doors just a year ago at 918 State Street. Our goal from the start was to bring life, joy, and a *safe space* to downtown. We’ve proudly donated to local schools, nonprofits, the Downtown Association, and have loved being a small business that truly cares.

But now, we’re being forced out..

After investing over $100,000 of our family savings—into renovating a city-owned building that was not up to code when we moved in (and that the city failed to maintain), we were just told we have 20 days to leave. No financial assistance. No compensation. Just a heartbreaking end to a dream we poured everything into we are fighting for more time.

We signed a six-year lease, and the city approved our business plan in 2023. We would *never* have signed that lease—or taken on the cost to upgrade their building—if we thought we’d be gone within a year. This feels like a “renoviction,” especially since we’re being removed right before the neighboring previously owned Metropolitan Theatre begins its renovation.

Our store is more than cookies—it’s art, love, and community. We spent $12,000 alone on our unique interior artwork, and visitors come just to take photos and feel the vibe. We’ve become a destination on State Street. We bake giant “thicc” cookies in delicious flavors like s’mores, red velvet, chocolate caramel, sugar-free, gluten-free, and even handmade dog cookies.

And we’re not giving up!!!

Thanks to incredible community support, we’re already exploring a great new possible locations in Goleta and one nearby. But after losing our entire investment in downtown, we simply can’t do this next step alone.

We’re asking for help to rebuild Cookie Plug SB….

Funds raised will go directly to:

- Architectural design & layout for our new space

- Permits, city fees, and required inspections

- Construction and renovations

- Grand reopening to welcome our amazing community back

-Keeping our staff employed so they don’t they loose their jobs

We believe in Santa Barbara/Goleta. We believe in second chances. And with your support, we’ll come back even stronger—and show the city what they lost when they let us go.

We appreciate all the communities incredible support any donation is helpful regardless amount ❤️, stopping by to spread smiles kind words. You’re not just helping save a business—you’re helping keep a piece of our community and our spirits alive. After so many called and asked how they could help we made the final decision to open this account to try to keep our dream alive, our employees with jobs and a new home for our cookies that are absolutely INCREDIBLE & Delicious Cookie!!!!!

Read more about our story in a wonderful article by Joshua Molina: https://www.noozhawk.com/cookie-plug-owner-says-city-abruptly-pulled-plug-on-state-street-lease/

Thank you to the amazing KEYT, KSBY…..

With love and gratitude,

Annette Rodriguez❤️

Owner, Cookie Plug Santa Barbara

Local Nurse, SBHS + SBCC Grad, Daughter of Jo Ann Caines, Proud Santa Barbara Native