••• As is often the case, the new year has brought with it the closure of several businesses—such as Far West Guns (on State between Mission and Padre), as noticed by J. The website is still up, but Google lists the shop as permanently shuttered, and the phone number has been disconnected. There was still merchandise inside when I peeked inside last week.
••• The Whitney Chic Boutique at 36 W. Calle Laureles will be closing in the next few weeks. In the meantime, everything (excluding new arrivals) is 50%-75% off.
••• Caravan by KiKiSol is no longer at 631 State Street (Cota/Ortega).
••• A sign outside the Paradise Import teak furniture “store” on Garden Street in the Funk Zone says a moving sale is underway. It may or may not be new. That corner of Garden and Yanonali is set to be the site of the 250-room Garden Street Hotel.
••• I was sorry to see the “for lease” sign on the Open Air Bicycles shop at the corner of Carrillo Street and Santa Barbara Street. The shop is still open, but for how long is not clear.
••• It’s always heartening to learn of someone else willing to peek through windows to take photos—such as L., who got proof that Free People is indeed moving from State Street to 40 Los Patos Way. The mass-market brand is a departure for The Post.
••• I was driving south on the 101 during Saturday’s storm, and I was surprised how the new stretch in Carpinteria and Summerland doesn’t drain that well. Has anyone else had that experience? Also, the northbound middle lane near Milpas has been patched with a black substance that’s extremely slippery…