Local shop owners discuss lay of the land amid storefront shuffle

The downtown business community in Carpinteria and Ojai is experiencing a significant storefront shuffle as longtime favorites close and new trendy options emerge. Entrepreneurs are adapting to the changing 'snow globe' culture by embracing specialized niches and focusing on building local community ties. While some owners express concern over market dilution and rising rents, others see the flux as a necessary evolution to keep the coastal towns vibrant for future generations.