Fine dining is a tough business in downtown Santa Barbara. Even a helping hand from a Hollywood star sometimes isn’t enough to pull a family business through.

Consider Epiphany Restaurant & Bar. After eight and a half years in business and backing from onetime co-owner Kevin Costner, the Academy Award-winning actor who maintains a villa in Carpinteria, it closed in February.

Its owners have reopened it as Hob Nob Tavern with a new menu adjusted for a softer economy, but they face lawsuits alleging $65,000 in unpaid debts from their old venture.

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