Santa Cruz Markets have been locally owned since 1980. Before that, in the 1970s, Santa Cruz Markets was a chain of seven stores throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. The name comes from the first store in the chain that was on the corner of Santa Cruz Street and Main Street in Ventura. The Santa Barbara stores were on North Milpas Street, Cliff Drive on the Mesa, and Hollister Avenue in Goleta. In 1980, the chain was broken up and the only two left today are in the Santa Barbara area. In 1990, the Mesa store lost its lease, and was forced to move to its present location, 324 West Montecito Street, formally the location of Aiellos Market. Find a more detailed history here: goletahistory.com/santa-cruz-market/