The large produce section at the Nyack Fresh Market grocery store Feb. 25, 2025.
Santa Barbara, California – Tri-County Produce, a Santa Barbara institution for over 50 years, was days away from shutting its doors for good — until Eric and Wendy Schmidt, the billionaire power couple behind Google’s rise, swooped in to save it.
John Dixon, who bought the humble market with his father in 1985, had decided to retire after decades of running the beloved store known for its farm-fresh local produce, meats, and gourmet goods. After announcing the closure, Dixon braced himself for a tearful goodbye from a community that had come to rely on Tri-County as a rare non-corporate shopping oasis.
But fate had other plans.
A loyal customer, Wendy Schmidt heard the news and sprang into action. Within days, she and her husband — worth nearly $23 billion according to Forbes — crafted a plan to save Tri-County. The Schmidts have invested in the business, ensuring the market stays open and thrives for years to come.
Longtime employees Jaime Desales Sr. and Jaime Desales Jr., a father-son duo with deep Santa Barbara roots, will take the reins and eventually own the store. “Jaime and his family are part of the fabric of this community,” Dixon said. “They’ll carry on the spirit my father and I built.”
Tri-County’s rebirth comes with big upgrades: plans call for expanding the current 6,000-square-foot store to 10,000 square feet, adding a breezy outdoor patio, and carving out 45 new parking spaces. Those improvements will roll out alongside a new 53-unit apartment complex currently under construction next door.
For Santa Barbara locals, the news felt like a miracle. Loyal customers poured into Tri-County in recent days, hugging employees and shedding tears of joy. “It’s the best news we’ve ever heard,” said one customer. “We thought we were losing a piece of our town.”
Dixon, who will officially step away by the end of May, described the transition as emotional but heartening. “You can always work hard to make some money,” he said with a grin. “But you can’t make more memories.”
Thanks to the Schmidts’ quick action, Santa Barbara won’t lose one of its most cherished institutions. Instead, Tri-County Produce will keep doing what it does best: feeding its community, nurturing local farms, and offering a rare alternative to the big chains taking over the grocery world.
