Designer Steve Hermann will write the next chapter for the former Arts & Letters Cafe, turning the quaint eatery and gallery space into a fine dining restaurant.

According to Hayes Commercial Group, the property, which sits just off State Street at 7 E. Anapamu St., closed above the $2.1 million asking price and garnered a handful of offers.

Frank Goss, who ran the establishment for the last two decades, is consolidating his Sullivan Goss Art Gallery into a space next door, which he has leased for the last 10 years.

Steve Hayes and Michael Martz of Hayes represented Goss in the sale of the building. Hayes also represented Goss when he initially purchased the building for his business.

The building is well-suited for an upscale restaurant as it’s surrounded by the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, the Granada Theatre, the Santa Barbara Public Market, the Arlington Theatre and a number of other restaurants and galleries.

“The building is a one-of-a-kind space with arguably the nicest dining patio in Santa Barbara,” Martz said.