- The Bottle Shop is where Hollywood stars and locals go to buy sandwiches, bottles of fancy tequila, lottery tickets, and ice cream.
- Comedian Steve Martin, country singer Brad Paisley, talk show host Oprah Winfrey and singer Katy Perry have been spotted frequenting this unassuming establishment.
An unassuming California liquor store in the heart of Montecito, California, has become the latest hangout for celebrities and billionaires.
Part liquor store and part liquor store, The Bottle Shop is where Hollywood stars and locals alike come to pick up sandwiches, bottles of premium tequila, lottery tickets, and even ice cream.
The modest shop on Coast Village Road in Montecito is home to comedian Steve Martin, country singer Brad Paisley, talk show host Oprah Winfrey, singer Katy Perry and former Lakers coach Phil Jackson. have been seen visiting frequently.
The yellow store is located on a large corner lot with a stunning backdrop of the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.
Christian Trad, whose hard-working father Morhaf immigrated to Los Angeles from Syria with a small fortune in the 1980s, bought the business in 1992, years before Trad was born.
Now, the 26-year-old is in charge of operations, calling The Bottle Shop a “community staple” where celebrity customers and the general public feel comfortable visiting.
Many famous residents who live in the Santa Barbara area include Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Oprah Winfrey, Gwyneth Paltrow, Rob Lowe, Orlando Bloom, and Adam Levine.
“In a way, we’re like therapists. We’re not therapists, but people want to come here and talk about their day and what they’re going through,” Trad told S.F. told Gate.
He added, “And to be honest, we hear it all.”
But he also told local news outlets that “what’s said in a liquor store stays in a liquor store.”
Montecito resident Veronica LaFoley, who was shopping at the store, told SF Gate that she has seen many celebrities shop at The Bottle Shop, including Oprah and Steve Martin. .
She said the store is a special place that gives stars privacy. “I see them,” LaFoley said of the neighborhood’s famous people.
“They are normal people like us. I hate to see them in trouble,” she told the news outlet.
“You see helicopters flying over and taking pictures and stuff. I feel a little bit sorry for them. They can’t be normal and just walk down the street or walk their dog. is.”
Trad called Brad Paisley “a very down-to-earth guy…He comes in and talks sports.”
And of legendary singer Katy Perry: “She was here the other day with just a hat and glasses on and I didn’t even recognize her.”
Former Lakers coach Phil Jackson will also be in attendance. The owner said this about him: “He comes around every now and then.” It’s hard to miss. ”
Trad said his father taught him how to work with a diverse clientele, including Hollywood moguls, billionaires and working men.
He said, “Everyone is a customer.” But we also make sure everyone feels special. ”
For busy shops lWe stock hundreds of bottles of rare liqueurs, wine, whiskey and bourbon, and even have a temperature-controlled wine cellar.
We carry bottles that you cannot find at other stores. What we value is that if you don’t have it here, you won’t find it anywhere,” he said. “That’s our little slogan and motto.”
He added that it’s not unusual for him to be asked by celebrities or their assistants to assemble items for special events.
In a 2020 interview with the Montecito Journal, his father, Morhaf, said, “People are counting on us.”
“We stayed open during an earthquake, and when we had the chance to stay open during fires and mudslides, we stayed open.
“We opened to provide as much as we could to the community. During the fires, a lot of firefighters and sheriffs from all over California and Portland came into town, but there were no restrooms. There was no water. It was a ghost town.
“So they used my bathroom.” I gave them food, water…whatever I had. ”
