Capitol Hardware acquires Santa Barbara Plumbing Supplies, plans to combine the two showrooms

Capitol Hardware announced today that it is taking over Santa Barbara Plumbing Supplies.

Santa Barbara Plumbing Supplies located at 621 N. Milpas Street was established in 1984 by Gene, and Kim Bantilan and provides kitchen and bath fixtures to plumbers, builders, and homeowners.

An unexpected illness led to Bantilan’s sudden passing in 2016, and Alan Bleecker, President of Capitol Hardware, had been looking to relocate his business in preparation for building work-force housing on their family property on Milpas Street.

“Acquiring Santa Barbara Plumbing makes sense for many reasons,” Bleecker says, “it allows us to continue Santa Barbara Plumbing’s rich tradition of locally owned plumbing material supply, allows us to better serve our customers in the building industry, and it gives us a great new location!”

Bleecker says when he started in the business in 1986, a large portion of Capitol Hardware’s sales were plumbing related.

However, when Santa Barbara Plumbing moved in just a half-block away, Bleecker and his father-in-law decided to move away from the plumbing business and focus instead on hardware, doors, and building supplies.

“Although the path we went down served both companies well, we are excited about the opportunity to once again bring together hardware and plumbing fixtures!” Bleecker stated.

Capitol Hardware will continue to keep Santa Barbara Plumbing Supplies open and plans to combine the two showrooms to 621 N. Milpas later this year.

Capitol Hardware will remain in its current location at 711 N. Milpas until it is combined with Santa Barbara Plumbing Supplies.