People of Montecito: Nick Svensson

What’s a Montecito Memory Many People Don’t Know About?

“I grew up in Santa Barbara and my dad was in Montecito. I’ve been surfing Hammonds and Biltmore since I was a little kid. In high school, I actually used to manage the Liquor & Wine Grotto during my senior year. Then, I was a bartender at the Coast Village Grill, which is now Lucky’s. They used to call that area ‘the Montecito Triangle.’ People from the Grill to the bistro, which is now Los Arroyos, to the night club, Nippers… it was chaos. It was out of hand back in the day. Lots of partying. I was in high school and had hair down to my belt.

I started real estate twenty-four years ago. Right here, at this desk. It was a different office, Fred Sands, which I was with for four years. Then I worked at Sotheby’s for sixteen, and came here four years ago. Back to the original place. Full circle!”

Nick Svensson, Compass