Cookie Plug hopes to keep making dough on State Street in Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The Cookie Plug franchise next to the Fiesta Five is still making dough, but its future at this location appears to be crumbling.

When the Metropolitan Theatre Company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last March, the Santa Barbara City Council voted in favor of a long-term lease with the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

The Fiesta Five is now the nonprofit’s headquarters and continues to show movies daily.

The owner of Cookie Plug noticed her neighbor moving out and was under the impression she still had time remaining on a six-year lease she made with MTC.

Annette Rodriguez, who also works as a nurse, said the owner of MTC gave her a great deal on the large space.

She said that after investing in the franchise she experienced in Anaheim, she made improvements to the building.

She loves selling Cookie Plug sweets on State Street in Santa Barbara, despite the number of empty storefronts in the area.

She had hoped her store would inspire others to fill those vacancies.

Rodriguez would prefer to remain in her current location, but she is now determined to find a new one.

Murals on the walls of Cookie Plug show the late rapper Biggie Smalls.

She won't be able to move them.

“Plug” is slang—in this case, it means to connect with cookies.

The city chose not to comment on camera about the situation but did issue the following statement from Downtown Parking and Plaza Manager Edward France:

“Cookie Plug does not have a six-year lease with the City. Cookie Plug was a subtenant of Metro Theaters. The lease between Metro Theaters and the City expired on September 30, 2024. Since that time, Cookie Plug has been operating under a signed temporary revocable license agreement with the City while the parties attempted to negotiate terms for a potential lease. No lease has been negotiated with Cookie Plug.

The City cannot offer comment on the discussions, negotiations, and internal reviews done out of respect to the privacy of the licensee’s business.”

Rodriguez said she will miss the space and the customers she has met.

“What is most heartbreaking about leaving is that we won’t be able to see our Cookie Plug dogs. We won’t be able to see our locals that come in for a cookie after a rough week and get to chit-chat with me. That is going to be the hardest part for us,” said Rodriguez.

She is not giving up her dream of owning a business that customers seem to enjoy.

You can find more information about the bakery at https://cookieplug.com.