Cominichi's At Mom's - Fab Fiesta Fashion & Veritable Vintage Paradise - Another Chapter of Santa Barbara History Comes to an End

I love things that age well - things that don't date, that stand the test of time and that become living examples of the absolute best.

~ Giorgio Armani

February 16, 2011 - UPDATE - Cominichi's has moved!  Visit them at their new store: 410 E Haley St.  

Same Santa Barbara vintage va-va-voom - just a new hangout.   Read on about their old store.....and at the end of the post, read Gina's announcement about the move, and a little history about Mom's Italian Restaurant, a Santa Barbara institution....

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Every year at about this time, I start to get the "spirit of Fiesta."    I get out the Mexican shawls, the terra cotta bowls, the crepe paper flowers, and I dig through the closet until I find my little vintage fingertip towels with the Spanish dancers....they look like they are at the El Paseo Restaurant, dancing to the romantic music of Flamenco guitars. 

I found them at  Cominichi's, more than 20 years ago.    Cominichi's has always been one of Santa Barbara's favorite vintage stores.  Then, it was located in a little shop right above De la Guerra Plaza.  To reach the store, you climbed a steep staircase that was lined on both sides with embroidered shawls, satin nightgowns, hats, and beaded cocktail dresses;  shoes and purses were displayed at the edges of the steps.

And the store itself was a sight - there were fabulous feminine fashions from every decade,  hung on the walls, on racks, and strewn with girly abandon on tuffets and chairs, padded hangers and velvet chaises.  It was a boudoir, a lair, really, with furniture, framed pictures, articles for the toilette,  darling home fashions, shoes, handbags, yards and yards of vintage fabric,  and lace, feathers, gold, silver, sleek, soft, cool, hot.....It was like an all-girl clubhouse, a place to play dress up and vamp in the mirror.  I loved that place.

And although there have been several other Cominichi-incarnations over the years, Gina Comin has continued to bring the best selection of vintage wares to Santa Barbara.  Now you can get them  at Cominichi's at Mom's on Laguna Street.  Mom's was one of the original Italian restaurants  in Santa Barbara, a true family favorite for many decades. 

When Mom's closed, many of us were concerned that the beautiful old building would be torn down or rennovated.  But thankfully, it was preserved, and transformed into Cominichi's at Mom's.  It's full of vendors who bring together an amazing collection of vintage clothing, furnishings and artwork, with fresh inventory added regularly.  There is even a vendor who sells a line of new organic cotton clothing.  There are several jewelers and artists, too, who display their creations.

The store is a wonderful little warren of vignettes, and rooms and levels of tableaux that can keep you mesmerized for hours.  You think you've seen it all - and then you turn the corner.....

I stopped in the other day and spied this hat:

It is a vintage velvet creation from the 1940s, in perfect condition.  It is a  frivolous , fun little hat, with netting and tassels and the perfect amount of sizzle for a dashing caballera.   I think it would be the perfect thing to wear to Las Noches de Ronda,  a huge Fiesta party in the Sunken Garden of the Santa Barbara Courthouse, where you spend the evening watching Spanish dancers in the warm light of the August moon. 

And Cominichi's has more than just clothing.   They have books and lamps and fans and flags, games, dishes, postcards and curtains, shoes and ashtrays and statues and pictures - interesting collectable items, accessories and home fashions from every decade.  And, they are displayed in a way that our original Mom would approve of, I'm sure.

The prices are reasonable, and it seems there's always something on sale.   The vendors take turns acting as host or hostess at the shop, so you can meet them and ask questions, too.

You'll see beautiful, locally-crafted artwork and jewelry, and some of the "living examples of the absolute best" from the past 100 years of style and fashion - items that, although markedly vintage, are absolutely fresh in a modern setting, too.

And if you look closely, past the wild displays and furniture and lamps - high up on the wall -

 

you might catch a glimpse of the murals from the  old Mom's restaurant, where the boats still glide along an Italian canal, and offer you a ride into days gone by.

Here is Gina Comin's announcement about the demolition of the historic building that was, for many years, the business location and home to two of Santa Barbara's favorite hometown girls:  First, Mom, then, Gina.  Visit an updated post about Cominichi's store now located at 410 E Haley St....

Written December 14, 2010:

Dear All,

I'm writing to give everyone an update on the demolition of "Mom's Italian Village" (current site of Cominichi’s).

 

Some History of Mom’s Italian Village:

There is a pretty great history involved in Mom’s since it began serving Santa Barbara in the 1930’s .  Every Italian family I know, including my own, has had many a celebration there. 

 

As children my sisters and I were fascinated by Mom’s Italian Village, with its detailed ironwork, bar made of one single plank of aged Honduran Mahogany, its fabulous mural of Venice, the etched glass windows depicting lovers in a gondola.  My nona Assunta would take us to the map of Italy and show us where the town Crespano Del Grappa was featured as the place both the Signor family and my own were from.

In the 1940’s Mom and Pop Signor took in service men,  showing their WWII patriotism by feeding and housing the soldiers and service men in bungalows then on the property.  Also during this time there was a professional ball field located in the next block (where the City of SB now has a lot) and Mom’s was a regular pre-game and post-game stop for many.

 

Mom's was a huge part of the community for decades
and so many people remember weddings, birthdays,  anniversaries, life’s milestones and other important occasions.

Mom’s closed due to a series of events, including changing community demographics, the El Nino floods, and a Signor family tragedy which claimed the lives of Mom and Pop as well as a brother in law.   Transition house eventually purchased the property, and a series of short lived enterprises tried to make a go.  

 

Cominichi’s: 

Five years ago (8 years after Mom’s closed) Cominichi's, a long-time local business moved to the location.  The community really rallied around to support Cominichi’s and there was a tremendous and renewed interest in the history of Mom’s.  In the last 5 years of business at the Mom’s location, not a day has gone by when someone didn’t come into the shop just to feel the nostalgia of an earlier time or tell a story about their memories of Mom’s.

 

Time waits for no man, and in January of 2011 the Mom’s Italian Village building will be demolished to make way for affordable housing and infant care for local families in need.

 

Gina Comin, owner of Cominichi's, wants to make sure that Santa Barbarans are aware that beginning January 3, 2010 Cominichi’s will be open for business at 410 E. Haley Street (between Laguna and Olive).  Parking is plentiful and free at the corner of Haley and Laguna.

 

Wishing you love, love, love
  Gina
805-962-1413
cominichis@gmail.com

Comments

[gina comin]

Hi Everyone! We have now moved to an even more fabulous location only one block away at 410 E. Haley Street!
Please come in and see us!Thank you for your loyal patronage since 1989! We love you all!
Gina Comin
805-962-1413
www.cominichis.com

[mariana titus]

It's my favorite vintage store ever - and of course, we all love Gina and her style and attitude and taste & talent! Thanks Gina and whomever wrote the above column - you covered all the great things in the store. Salud

[Carol Ashley]

Yes, Gina is a genious! She manages to maintain a creative, positive-minded environment where all who enter can relax, refresh and become restored. Whether a vendor or a customer, you'll find that Cominichi's is an honorable experience. Come on in and enjoy the ambiance!

Many thanks for this great article!
Carol Ashley, Demo 2 Design

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1096244245]

What a wonderful article full of facts and very well written with excellent photos of Cominichi's!