Frances Garvin Puccinelli was born Frances Richardson Garvin on March 20, 1951, in Lompoc to Frances Harrison Garvin and James R. Garvin. She grew up on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Santa Barbara and Carpinteria and spent her childhood exploring the wilds of Montecito and the shores of Padaro Lane at Loon Point. From an early age, Franny was known as a headstrong, energetic, resolved individual set on making her own way in the world, and that she did with much gusto and fortitude. Immediately after graduating Santa Barbara High School in 1969, Franny grabbed her passport and took off for new territory. After a series of adventures, and a few youthful mishaps, she returned home to Padaro Lane to build a life and her community.
From the early 1980s to 2005, Carpinteria was Fran’s entrepreneurial studio, and she quickly earned the unofficial title Mayor of Linden Avenue because of the four thriving businesses she created. Her first success was The Deli House, known for its homemade soups and mile-high sandwiches served with friendly conversation. Before the coffeehouse craze, she opened The Coffee Grinder, and it quickly became a local hot spot and fountain of community activity. It also was a showcase for curiosities and early Latin-American folk objects. She loved folk and outsider art and started the Frances Puccinelli Gallery in 1989. She exhibited artists such as Mose Tolliver, Howard Finster, and Bessie Harvey alongside local contemporary artists. SOAP was her last retail venture before retiring, and it continues on under the ownership of Daniel Case.
During her “biz” years, Fran was an active member of the community and often led the charge and rallied people with positive action. In a Santa Barbara News-Press article from September 13, 1992, writer Kathy Price quoted Fran as saying, “When you own a business, it’s your whole life.” Longtime friend, entrepreneur, and collaborator Debbie Murphy understood this. She recalled, “Fran was committed to beauty and integrity in everything she did. When she opened The Coffee Grinder on Linden Avenue, it was a dirty, rundown street, and it looked like it was dying. Instead of complaining, Fran took out her broom and started sweeping the sidewalks every day. Within two weeks, the other business owners were onboard, and the street started to hum with life. Not long after, an official Street Committee was formed, and the community was forever transformed.”
