Compilation of Eateries "Coming Soon" to the Conejo Valley as of Mid-July 2022

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The corner where Mimi’s Cafe used to reside and that, sometime in 2023, Amy’s Drive-Thru will be serving organic, vegetarian and vegan fast food.

We’re asked all the time when a particular new eatery will be opening, to which we usually reply “coming soon” is all we know. There’s so many places that are “coming soon” today that why don’t we just list them out here. Contact us with any additions or updates to this list.

Conejo Valley

Zankou Chicken still “coming soon” on Moorpark Road in the former Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

The drive-thru Starbucks to be built at the corner of Moorpark Road and Avenida De Las Flores in Thousand Oaks is certain to be a destination for Thousand Oaks High School students across the street.

Ventura County Library Welcomes the Public Back Into Buildings

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Since April 7, 2021, the Ventura County Library System libraries, including libraries in the cities of Ojai, Ventura, Port Hueneme, and Fillmore, have welcomed the public back for limited indoor services including browsing and checkout of collections and computer use. Customers have up to 50 minutes per day to conduct activities in the library.

Since summer of 2020, customers have also been able to place holds for library materials online and pick them up when ready just outside the front doors of the libraries. Throughout the pandemic, the library system has worked closely with public health officials and within state guidelines for libraries to provide safe library services and programs.

The safety of customers and staff remain the first priority and customers may notice enhanced safety measures when they come back to the library, such as plexiglass barriers at service desks, availability of hand sanitizer, and socially distanced computer workstations. The library has covered additional costs throughout the pandemic associated with paying janitorial crews for more often and extra deep cleaning measures and upgraded filters on HVAC systems. The library continues to provide numerous online programs and resources, but also has plans to implement some in-person programs again as early as this summer. When the state reopens, public seating and tables will be made available again for study and reading, and time limits for library use per day eliminated.

At the Ventura County Library System, 42% of library employees were redeployed over the course of the pandemic to serve as Disaster Services Workers for other county agencies, performing tasks such as delivering meals to seniors, contact tracing and working at vaccination clinics. During the pandemic, several customer service modifications were made, some of which the library is planning to continue after the pandemic because they were so successful, such as offering live online tutoring for students in both English and Spanish, chat reference services, virtual STEAM and Storytime programs, and enhanced ebook collections. For a seven-month period in the past year, over 2,000 students received live tutoring online through the library. Over 25,000 people received virtual library cards online to access ebooks and databases, including many students accessing these resources for schoolwork. And from July 2020 to April 2021 an average of 15,600 items were checked out from the libraries per month. Ebook usage increased 75% over the past year, and eaudiobook usage increased 25%. From March 2020 to April 2021, staff produced 621 live Storytime programs on Facebook which had 70,044 unique views. In partnership with the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, the Mobile Library delivered Face Mask Kits, containing face masks for children and adults, hand sanitizer and information for older family members, to some of the hardest hit areas of the county. In September 2020, the Board of Supervisors approved the library to go permanently fine free for overdue library materials, meaning there are no overdue fines that could prevent people from using the library. This positive change removes barriers to library services for some of the most vulnerable populations who need library services the most.

The Ventura County Library continues to partner with other agencies and non-profits to share resources and implement impactful programs designed specifically to meet the needs of people in Ventura County. Acknowledging that basic needs must be met before people can participate in lifelong learning and education, many of these partnerships focus on addressing the mental and physical well-being of community members in addition to providing library and literacy services. Other partnerships address the need for access to technology and digital literacy. For example, the library will soon implement Parent and Child Together classes in collaboration with First 5 of Ventura County to address the social and emotional needs of children and their parents and develop early literacy skills; and, a program to provide technology and workforce training through the Mobile Library in partnership with the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County and America’s Job Center of Oxnard. The library is also working with the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging to loan computers to seniors across the county to address social isolation and access to health information. And, in summer 2021 the Avenue Library will host the Lunch at the Library program to meet the nutritional needs of children who are out of school for the summer, along with the annual Summer Reading program to address literacy.

To find out more about the Ventura County Library, please visit us online at www.vencolibrary.org.

County of Ventura Poised to Move to Orange Tier on April 7th

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County of Ventura poised to move to State’s Orange Tier Next Week - Declining Cases and Hospitalizations are a Hopeful Sign; Progress on Vaccinations Continues Despite Supply Challenges

The State of California announced today that the County of Ventura has met requirements for the State’s Orange Tier for the first week of the two-week required time frame. If the County meets the Orange Tier requirements at the next review on April 6, the County will be able to move to Orange on April 7. As with the shift to the Red Tier, the County will continue to align with the State’s framework for Orange Tier activities.

All activities authorized under the State’s Orange Tier can resume in accordance with State capacity limits and safety protocols, including:

  • Amusement parks: smaller parks can open outdoors with 25% max occupancy or 500 people, whichever is fewer; there must be reservations or advanced ticket sales and only local attendees are allowed (from the same county as the park’s location)

  • Bars (where no meal is served): open outdoors with modifications

  • Cardrooms and satellite wagering: open indoors with 25% max occupancy

  • Family entertainment centers: open indoors for naturally distanced activities like bowling alleys and escape rooms; kart racing, mini golf and batting cages are outdoors only with modifications

  • Fitness centers and gyms: open indoors with 25% max occupancy; indoor pools open at 25% occupancy

  • Hotels and lodging: fitness centers can now open indoors with 25% max occupancy; indoor pools open at 25% occupancy

  • Movie theaters: open indoors with 50% max occupancy or 200 people, whichever is fewer

  • Museums, zoos, and aquariums: open indoors with 50% max occupancy

  • Offices: open indoors with modifications though telework is still encouraged

  • Outdoor live events: open at 20% capacity; reservations required with assigned seating only; regional attendees only (120-mile radius of venue).

  • Retail (including standalone grocers): open indoors at full capacity with modifications

  • Restaurants open indoors with 50% max occupancy or 200 people, whichever is fewer; only members of same household may share a table

  • Shopping centers (including swap meets and indoor malls): open indoors at full capacity with modifications; common areas must remain closed and food courts are at reduced capacity

  • Wineries, breweries and distilleries: open indoors with 25% max occupancy or 100 people, whichever is fewer; only members of same household may share a table

  • Youth sports: competitions between two teams are allowed in certain sports according to the State’s Youth Sports Guidance

The State has also issued new guidance for the following activities:

  • Outdoor live audience events including ballparks and stadiums

  • Guidance for commencement and graduation ceremonies

After reaching the Orange Tier the County would need to remain in the Orange Tier for 3-consecutive weeks to be able to progress to the less restrictive Yellow Tier.

For more information on what the State allows in the Orange Tier, please visit covid19.ca.gov.

Ventura County Moves to the Red Tier Beginning Wednesday, March 17th

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According to the County of Ventura, the County will move to the State’s Red Tier beginning 12:01 am Wednesday, March 17, 2021.

The State’s Blueprint tracks three metrics: the seven-day adjusted case rate, the seven-day testing
positivity rate and the health equity metric. Ventura County’s case rate is 6.5, testing positivity is 2.8%
(orange tier) and health equity testing positivity is 5.0% (orange).

Moving from the purple tier into the red tier for the County means:
• Restaurants can open indoors with 25 percent capacity or a maximum of 100 people, whichever
is fewer. The 11 pm closure requirement is lifted. The single household dining limitation is lifted.
State gathering guidance limits gatherings to 3 households or less.
• Retail establishments can open indoors at 50 percent capacity.
• Indoor shopping malls can increase capacity to 50 percent with common areas remaining closed;
food courts can open at 25 percent capacity adhering to the restaurant guidance for indoor
dining.
• Movie theaters can open indoors with 25 percent capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer.
• Gyms, fitness centers, yoga and dance studios can open indoors with 10 percent capacity with
6-ft social distancing instead of the previous requirement of 12 ft.
• Museums, zoos, and aquariums can open indoor activities at 25 percent capacity.

• Breweries, wineries and distilleries that do not serve meals can open outdoors only with
modifications. The modifications include ensuring that patrons have reservations and patrons
observe a 90-minute time limit. Service for on-site consumption must end by 8:00 p.m.
• Bars that do not serve meals remain closed in the Purple and Red tiers.
• Private gatherings can occur both outdoors and indoors with up to 3 separate households.
• Schools are permitted to re-open for in-person instruction adhering to all state and county
directives. This includes grades 7-12. Grades kindergarten - 6 already had the option of opening.
• Family entertainment centers (kart racing, mini-golf, batting cages) can open outdoors with
modifications.
• Personal care services can continue to operate indoors following state guidance.

Additional updated guidance:
• Golf carts do not need a partition between members of different households. They are
recommended but not required.
• Local HOA pool guidance has been lifted. HOA pools are encouraged to follow suggested County
guidance. Public or community pools continue to follow state issued guidance.
• 2 swimmers per lane are permitted in a public outdoor swimming pool.
• Wind instruments are allowed outdoors with bell covers and 6 feet distance between
instruments. There must be 20 feet distance at a minimum between the instruments and the
audience.

For more information please visit www.venturacountyrecovers.org or by calling the COVID Business
Compliance line at 805-202-1805.

Ventura County Poised to Move Back Into COVID-19 Red Tier on Wednesday, March 17th

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According to the County of Ventura, there is a distinct possibility that the County will be moving from the Purple Tier that we’ve been in since November 18, 2020 to the less restrictive Red Tier. Here are the details from the County:

The state has announced that once 2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are administered in the most vulnerable communities in the state that the state will modify the case rate requirements. The state reached 2 million doses were achieved on March 12th. As a result, Ventura County may achieve the Red Tier on Wednesday, the 17th.

Here's what can be open once the County is in the Red Tier:

  • Hair salons: open indoors with modifications

  • Retail: open indoors at 50% capacity

  • Malls: open indoors at 50% capacity and limited food courts

  • Places of worship: open indoors at 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer

  • Nail salons: open indoors with modifications

  • Electrolysis: open indoors with modifications

  • Personal care services (body waxing, etc.): open indoor with modifications

  • Tattooing and piercing: open indoors with modifications

  • Museums, zoos and aquariums: open indoors at 25% capacity

  • Movie theaters: open indoors at 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer

  • Hotels: open with modifications, plus fitness centers can open at 10% capacity

  • Gyms: open indoors at 10% capacity 6 feet social distancing

  • Restaurants: open indoors at 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer

  • Wineries, breweries and distilleries: outdoor only until 8 pm

  • Bars: closed

  • Family entertainment centers: outdoor only, like mini golf, batting cages and go-kart racing

  • Non-essential offices: remote work only

  • Professional sports: outdoor only at 20% capacity starting April 1

  • Schools: can reopen for in-person instruction after five days out of the purple tier

  • Theme parks: can reopen at 15% capacity starting April 1

  • Live performances: outdoor only at 20% capacity starting April 1

Once 2 million vaccine doses have been administered, a new set of metrics will be used for determining tier placement:

  • Widespread (purple): Counties with more than 10 daily new cases per 100,000 residents

  • Substantial (red): 4 to 10 daily new cases per 100,000 residents

  • Moderate (orange): 1 to 3.9 daily new cases per 100,000

  • Minimal (yellow): Less than 1 daily new case per 100,000

The County of Ventura has a current case rate of 9.1, which means the County will meet the new state metrics and be in the Red Tier by March 17.

Covid is still spreading in Ventura County. Continue wearing a mask, social distancing, washing hands frequently, staying home when sick and not gathering to help slow the spread.

More info about the state's tiers at: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.

On a related note, the County of Los Angeles moves to the Red Tier effective Monday, March 15th.

Regional Stay Home Order Has Been Lifted; Ventura County is Back to the Purple Tier Effective January 25th

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From the County of Ventura:

State of California Lifts Regional Stay at Home Order for All Regions

Ventura County in the State’s Purple Tier Effective Immediately

The California Department of Public Health has announced that the Regional Stay Home Order has been lifted in Southern California. Four-week ICU capacity projections for the region are above 15%, the threshold that allows regions to exit the order.

The action allows Ventura County to return to the rules and framework for the Blueprint for a Safer Economy and color-coded tiers that indicate which activities and businesses are open based on local case rates and test positivity. Services and activities, such as outdoor dining and personal services, may resume immediately with required modifications. Tier updates will be provided weekly on Tuesdays by the California Department of Public Health

“We ask our residents to continue to protect themselves, their loved ones, and their communities from COVID-19 by limiting gathering with anyone you don’t live with, wearing a face covering whenever you leave home, maintaining at least 6 feet of distance from anyone you don’t live with and washing your hands frequently,” said Rigoberto Vargas, Public Health Director.

In alignment with Purple Tier 1, the following sectors are permitted for OUTDOOR operations only until further notice. These sectors must still maintain mitigation measures (social distancing, face covering, and sanitization):

• Restaurants

• Gyms and Fitness Centers (12 feet social distancing required)

• Places of worship

• Playgrounds and recreational facilities

• Family Entertainment Centers (e.g. bowling alleys, miniature golf, batting cages, kart racing, and arcades)

• Movie theaters

• Museums, zoos, aquariums

• Wineries

• Cardrooms, satellite wagering

Bars, pubs, brewpubs and breweries may operate outdoors if they are offering sit-down, outdoor meals. Outdoor operations may be conducted under a tent, canopy, or other shelter if no more than one side is closed.

Additional information for outdoor dining establishments:

•Sit down dining may only take place with members of the same household, it must be outdoors and must end by 11 pm.

•Maximum time a patron may be on the premises is 1 and ½ hours.

•Restaurants can remain open for takeout or delivery past 11 pm as their permit allows.

In alignment with Purple Tier 1, the following sectors are open for INDOOR operations. These sectors must still maintain mitigation measures (social distancing, face covering, and sanitization) and modifications:

•All retail (maximum 25% capacity)

•Critical infrastructure

•Hair salons and barbershops

•Libraries (maximum 25% capacity)

•Nail salons and electrolysis operations

•Personal care services (e.g. body waxing, estheticians, tattoo, massage)

•Professional sports (without live audiences)

•Shopping centers (e.g. malls, destination centers, swap meets, excluding food courts and common areas) (maximum 25% capacity)

To learn more about the State’s Tier system and specific allowable activities for Ventura County, visit the State of California's COVID-19 Blueprint for a Safer Economy website. More information at www.venturacountyrecovers.org

Regional Stay Home Order Goes Into Effect Sunday, December 6th for at Least Three Weeks in Southern California, Including Ventura County

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State’s Stay Home Order Triggered in Southern California Region, Effective December 6, Midnight

The State of California’s Stay Home Order will go into effect on Sunday, December 6 at midnight in Ventura County and in all Counties in Southern California, after the Southern California Region's hospital ICU capacity dropped below 15%. The order closes many businesses and activities and urges people to stay at home whenever possible.

The California Department of Public Health reported on Friday evening that Southern California's ICU capacity dropped to 13.1%, triggering the Stay Home Order.

The order requires bars, wineries, nail salons, hair salons and barbershops, and other personal care services to close. Private gatherings of any size are prohibited. Restaurants can stay open for takeout and delivery, but they have to shut down both indoor and outdoor dining.

The Southern California Region Ventura County was placed in has, by itself, more than half the State’s total population. The region includes 11 counties. The County is urging the Governor to consider smaller, more targeted regions. The County, along with 58 Counties throughout the State, are also urging the Governor to consider additional, immediate assistance for impacted workers, families and businesses. The County of Ventura will continue to advocate and engage with the State on behalf of our County on a regular basis.

Schools opened while Ventura County was in the purple tier can stay open. K-6 schools that were given a waiver to reopen will be allowed to stay open. Retail stores will be allowed to stay open at 20% capacity.

Additionally, all non-essential travel is temporarily restricted statewide. Hotels and motels are now restricted to guests traveling for an essential reason.

Ventura County and all Counties in the Southern California Region are required by the State to stay under the lockdown for at least three weeks. After that, state health officials will evaluate ICU capacity and transmission rates to project at least four weeks into the future to determine if the stay home order can be lifted.

All Ventura County residents are further urged to help slow the spread by wearing a mask, social distancing and not gathering during this critical time. “Given the significant increase we have been experiencing in our county with COVID-19 with cases, test positivity, and hospitalizations, this order is the only remaining measure to flatten the curve as soon as possible,” said Rigoberto Vargas, Ventura County Public Health Director.

“Since it will take several weeks for these additional restrictions to slow in particular the very concerning rising hospitalizations, collectively and as the strong community that Ventura County is known for, I urge every resident and sector to support the measure in this order so that we can once and for all, given also the upcoming COVID-19 vaccine, get this virus under control. We will then be able to return to the path toward fully opening our business, schools and other sectors,” added Vargas.

The following activities and sectors must close by midnight on Sunday, December 6:

  • Indoor and outdoor playgrounds

  • Indoor recreational facilities

  • Hair salons and barbershops

  • Personal care services

  • Museums, zoos, and aquariums

  • Movie theaters

  • Wineries

  • Bars, breweries and distilleries

  • Family entertainment centers

  • Cardrooms and satellite wagering

  • Limited services

  • Live audience sports

  • Amusement parks

Other sectors that will be allowed to stay open when operating remotely is not possible include:

  • Critical Infrastructure

  • Schools that are already open for in-person learning

  • Non-urgent medical and dental care

  • Childcare and pre-K

The following sectors will have additional modifications in addition to 100% masking and physical distancing:

  • Outdoor recreational facilities: Allow outdoor operation only without any food, drink or alcohol sales. Additionally, overnight stays at campgrounds will not be permitted.

  • Retail: Allow indoor operation at 20% capacity with entrance metering and no eating or drinking in the stores. Additionally, special hours should be instituted for seniors and others with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.

  • Shopping centers: Allow indoor operation at 20% capacity with entrance metering and no eating or drinking in the stores. Additionally, special hours should be instituted for seniors and others with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.

  • Hotels and lodging: Allow to open for critical infrastructure support only.

  • Restaurants: Allow only for take-out, pick-up, or delivery. No indoor or outdoor dining.

  • Offices: Allow remote only except for critical infrastructure sectors where remote working is not possible.

  • Places of worship and political expression: Allow outdoor services only.

  • Entertainment production including professional sports: Allow operation without live audiences. Additionally, testing protocol and “bubbles” are highly encouraged.

More information about the Stay Home Order can be found at: covid19.ca.gov/stay-home-except-for-essential-needs. Local information at www.venturacountyrecovers.org.

vcportal.ventura.org/covid19/docs/2020-12-05_Stay_Home_Order_Triggered_in_Ventura_County_and_So_Cal_Region.pdf

Regional Stay Home Order Announced Today Goes Into Effect When ICU Availability Drops Below 15%

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Today the Governor announced a Regional Stay Home Order, it will go into effect within 48 hours in regions with less than 15% ICU availability. It prohibits private gatherings of any size, closes sector operations except for critical infrastructure and retail, and requires 100% masking and physical distancing in all others.

The order will remain in effect for at least 3 weeks and, after that period, will be lifted when a region’s projected ICU capacity meets or exceeds 15%. This will be assessed on a weekly basis after the initial 3-week period. Learn more about this order.

The State projects the Southern California Region, including Ventura County, to fall below 15% capacity as soon as tomorrow, and likely within a week.

When a region is placed under an order, these sectors will be closed:

  • Indoor and outdoor playgrounds

  • Indoor recreational facilities

  • Hair salons and barbershops

  • Personal care services

  • Museums, zoos, and aquariums

  • Movie theaters

  • Wineries

  • Bars, breweries, and distilleries

  • Family entertainment centers

  • Cardrooms and satellite wagering

  • Limited services

  • Live audience sports

  • Amusement parks

The following sectors will have additional modifications in addition to 100% masking and physical distancing:

Outdoor recreational facilities: Allow outdoor operation only without any food, drink or alcohol sales. Additionally, overnight stays at campgrounds will not be permitted.

Retail: Allow indoor operation at 20% capacity with entrance metering and no eating or drinking in the stores. Additionally, special hours should be instituted for seniors and others with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.

Shopping centers: Allow indoor operation at 20% capacity with entrance metering and no eating or drinking in the stores. Additionally, special hours should be instituted for seniors and others with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.

Hotels and lodging: Allow to open for critical infrastructure support only.

Restaurants: Allow only for take-out, pick-up, or delivery. No indoor or outdoor dining.

Offices: Allow remote only except for critical infrastructure sectors where remote working is not possible.

Places of worship and political expression: Allow outdoor services only.

Entertainment production including professional sports: Allow operation without live audiences. Additionally, testing protocol and “bubbles” are highly encouraged.

The following sectors are allowed to remain open when a remote option is not possible with appropriate infectious disease preventative measures including 100% masking and physical distancing:

  • Critical infrastructure

  • Schools that are already open for in-person learning

  • Non-urgent medical and dental care

  • Child care and pre-K

The State could make the announcement of the Stay At Home Order being implemented in our County as soon as tomorrow.

Read more about the State orders at: covid19.ca.gov/stay-home-except-for-essential-needs

This is a critical time to work together to slow the spread. Community members are encouraged to wear masks, social distance, wash hands frequently and not gather.

Once we learn of the State's decision for our region information will be posted. Until then businesses can still operate under the guidance in the purple tier.