Local Buzz covers new businesses, restaurants, closures, local politics, goings on around town and other buzzworthy items in the Conejo Valley and Greater Ventura County. Have a lead? Contact us. Click here for an archive of Local Buzz postings.
Local Buzz covers new restaurants, closures, local politics, goings on around town and other buzzworthy items in the Conejo Valley and Greater Ventura County. Have a lead? Contact us. Click here for an archive of Local Buzz postings.
Post other items directly to the Community Announcements section of the site.
Jon & Vinny's is currently hiring for all positions at its new location opening soon at 23538 Calabasas Road in Calabasas, across from Sagebrush Cantina. Call 818-444-6494 or visit jonandvinnys.com/jobs to apply. Jon & Vinny’s serves California‑Italian comfort food — handmade pastas, wood‑fired pizzas, and produce‑driven dishes — in a casual, diner‑style setting. Jon & Vinny’s was founded by award-winning chefs Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo.
The former Chef Burger at 1771 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd (at Los Feliz Drive, next to 7 Eleven) is slated to reopen as the 2nd brick and mortar location of La Poblana Mexican Grill. La Poblana's other location is at 540 N. Moorpark Road, near Wilbur, and it also operates food trailers next to Tarantula Hill Brewing Co. and in Ventura.
Before opening, they are remodeling this 600 sq ft spot to add a 140 sf ft restroom and equipment room. Stay tuned for updates at @la_poblana_mexican_grill
This historic location originally opened as Tastee Delite in 1966 until 1971. After that, it operated as Mr. G's (early 1970s), Mary's Coffee Shop (1973), Zorba's Coffee Shop (mid 70s to ~1982), and Chef Burger until early last year.
Cafecito opened today at the Agoura Meadows Shopping Center at 5639 Kanan Road, next to The Boba Tea Bar. Cafecito offers a mix of Cuban, Latin American, vegan, and vegetarian dishes. Signature Cuban dishes include the Cuban Sandwich, Ropa Vieja plate, Steak Chimichurri Platillo, and more. Learn more at iheartcafecito.com
Cheesesteaks by Matū opens on Tuesday, July 14 at The Commons in Calabasas. The team behind Matū and Matū Kai is bringing its 100% grass‑fed Wagyu Philly Cheesesteak — made with First Light Farms beef, a custom seeded bun, Cooper Sharp cheese, grilled onions, and a long hot pepper — to a casual walk‑up spot next to HiHo Cheeseburger. Each cheesesteak is made to order and served with house‑made chips. Located at 4799 Commons Way, Suite I. They will be open daily from 11:30am–7pm. Learn more at www.matusteak.com.
A new Yard House location is moving through the City review process in Thousand Oaks. Located across the parking lot from Dave & Buster’s and Nordstrom Rack, the proposal would demolish the existing two‑story office building at The Collection at Janss (Hillcrest & Wilbur) and replace it with a new restaurant featuring outdoor dining, a beer garden, and updated parking. The permit was filed May 19 and is currently under review.
This would be the second Ventura County Yard House location; the first opened at The Collection at RiverPark in July 2013.www.yardhouse.com
As mentioned last fall, the City is also reviewing a separate proposal for a 1,025 sq. ft. Dutch Bros Coffee drive‑through on a 0.9‑acre pad at the corner of Hillcrest Drive and Conejo Blvd., on the same property.
The site plan also shows a future K9 Resorts Luxury Hotel on the upper level. We’ll stay tuned for future pupdates.
Sweets Cafe & Bakery will be opening soon at 2444 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks (adjacent to Bo’s House of Omelettes).
The cafe will be offering freshly baked pastries and handcrafted desserts, specialty coffee, and more. Follow them on Instagram at www.instagram.com/sweetscafeandbakery.
The Salsa & Beer Mexican Grill “coming soon” signs were up in December 2020 but were subsequently taken down, Finally, 5 1/2 years later, there are new signs up as of today at 4895 Las Virgenes Road in Calabasas. at the former Coco’s location visible from the 101 south.
With locations in North Hollywood and Van Nuys/Lake Balboa, Salsa & Beer offers authentic Mexican food from the town of Jerez, located in the Mexican state of Zacatecas.
The menu includes traditional Mexican combination plates, fajitas, sizzling spicy Molcajete dishes, Spicy Zacatecas Carnitas, Tampiquena Chicken, Carne Asada Encebollada Charbroiled Steak, their “famous” tortas and much more.
Timing of restaurant opening TBA.
More info at www.salsaandbeertogo.com.
Wok House Modern Chinese Kitchen is coming soon to the former Color Oaks Chinese eatery in the North Oaks Center at 1032 E. Avenida De Los Arboles in Thousand Oaks. Updates on Instagram at @wokhaus_chinesekitchen
Chinese eateries in the Conejo Valley compiled at THIS LINK.
La Gita Kitchen and Focacceria is coming to the County Line Shopping Center at 4619 Lakeview Canyon Road in Westlake Village, taking over the former StretchCoast space. The takeout and catering kitchen will offer freshly baked focaccia, sandwiches, salads, and charbroiled chicken, with wine and beer available for offsite consumption following City Council approval on April 22.
La Gita is co-owned by local resident Kyle Lopez, who worked at Stonefire Grill from 2008 to 2020 and served as its Chief Operating Officer. His mother and co‑owner, Mary Harrigan, co‑founded Stonefire Grill in 2000. Stonefire was sold in 2016, and now the family is bringing this promising new takeout concept to Westlake Village. Kyle indicated that La Gita is targeting a late‑2026 grand opening.
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