Rincon Brewery's Funk Zone Location Sold, Closes March 1; Other Locations Open

Rincon Brewery announced on Instagram that its Funk Zone pub in Santa Barbara closed and was sold, wrapping up service on March 1, 2026. The brewery’s farewell post included photos and video montages of customers and staff from over the years, invited people to buy the last pieces of merchandise and dog toys, and asked for help clearing out the beer-to-go fridge; the post said the closure was “not a ‘goodbye, just a new chapter.’”

The closure leaves Rincon’s Carpinteria and Ventura locations as the brand’s remaining Central Coast outposts. Rincon first opened in Carpinteria in fall 2014 and added a Ventura brewpub in December 2018; the Funk Zone tap room launched in July 2020 and became known for a rare cozy “SB” patio, craft panini’s and flatbreads, and its roster of RB beers.

The Funk Zone location carried a 4.2-star rating on Yelp, reflecting steady neighborhood support, and local coverage of the closure drew attention online, with one story page showing 1.2k views. The shutdown follows other recent churn in Santa Barbara’s hospitality mix; Edhat noted Riviera Bar closed on February 14, 2026, as part of a string of neighborhood changes that owners and regulars are tracking.

Local reporting and neighborhood chatter have named a possible successor for the space, but that remains unconfirmed. Siteline’s post flagged a rumor that “South Coast Deli will take over the space,” while the brewery’s public message confirmed only that the outlet had been sold and did not name a buyer. No sale documents, landlord statements, or a public announcement from a prospective new tenant were included in the social-media materials.

The Instagram embed carried by local coverage was labeled “A post shared by Rincon Brewery (RB) (@rinconbreweryinc)” and the visual farewell montage emphasized staff and longtime patrons rather than contractual details. Rincon’s social post invited last-minute visits to purchase merchandise and help empty the beer-to-go fridge, signaling a quick transition at the storefront level.

Beyond the sale, neighborhood planning items suggest more change is coming to the Funk Zone corridor. Siteline cited an Architectural Board of Review agenda item for March 2 about Validation Ale removing parking spaces to create new outdoor dining and a delivery area under AB-2097, a state law affecting parking minimums near transit stops. For now, Rincon’s Carpinteria and Ventura pubs will continue pouring while the Funk Zone address waits for its next chapter and the community watches who signs the lease or closes escrow.