Make Myself at Home: Cheers to Jodi House on Chapala

I had a strong dose of déjà vu as I toured the distinctive Victorian house at 625 Chapala Street last week. Walking up to the front porch, I recalled vivid scenes from years past: people milling about the front door, the sound of laughter coming from inside, and mouthwatering smells wafting down the street. For more than 15 years, 625 Chapala was Chad’s Restaurant, one of Santa Barbara’s favorite happy-hour and dinner hot spots.

Chad’s closed its doors in 2008, and today, the tall, ornately detailed, wood-framed building is the home of Jodi House, a support center for adults who have suffered brain injuries. Jodi House offers classes, activities, and one-on-one case management for brain injury survivors, and it’s the only facility in the entire tri-county area to do so. A warm environment and sense of community is evident as soon as one steps through the front door of Jodi House.

The front room of the house is a cozy library with inviting armchairs and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves filled with thousands of donated books for Jodi House members to borrow. One wall of this room is decorated with handmade posters that depict and tell the story of Jodi House.