Santa Barbara Eastside Girls Inc. Center Closes Its Doors Permanently

The Santa Barbara Eastside Girls Inc. building has closed its doors permanently due to its aging facility and financial constraints brought on by the pandemic. The gymnastics program will finish its summer camp season, however, as the nonprofit expands to other venues.

The decision to close the center and sell the property was made after the center closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Girls Inc. Board of Directors was forced to evaluate if the outdated facility was worth continued investment. Due to structural issues with the bathrooms, roofing, HVAC system, and electrical systems, the board determined the repairs were cost-prohibitive. “It was not in a condition that we felt like we could call it a safe environment to learn in,” said Jen Faust, CEO of Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara.

The gymnasium remains in operation to allow ongoing recreational and team gymnastics programs to conclude. The classroom portion of the building closed early in the pandemic, Faust said, and later in 2021 was converted into a remote learning center with on-site tutors, but enrichment classes never resumed.