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.
Zooza Cafe opened a few days ago in the Paseo Marketplace, directly adjacent to The Melting Pot restaurant at 3687 East Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Westlake Village.
On its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ZoozaCafe, Zooza Cafe calls itself a health food cafe that serves up smoothies, salads, coffee, sandwiches, baked goods and more. Open for breakfast, lunch and coffee. Call 805.496.9669 for more information.
Malibu Pier Restaurant & Bar opened today, May 15th, at the foot of the Malibu Pier (previously occupied by The Beachcomber), 23000 Pacific Coast Highway. Executive Chef Jason Fullilove and his team will be serving up fresh seafood in a casual environment. Their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/malibupierrestaurantandbar displays a some of what's to come, including fresh oysters, California White Sea Bass Carpaccio, Tuna Crudo, Malibu Fennel Salad, California Striped Bass, Malibu Seafood Stew, black rice gumbo with octopus, pork sausage, peas, Thai basil, and prawns, Strawberry Pie and more, accompanied by a full bar. Visit malibupierrestaurant.com for more information.
Gandolfo's New York Deli opened its first Ventura County based restaurant at The Collection at Riverpark in Oxnard last year.
A second Gandolfo's opened in mid-May 2014 in the Montalvo Square Shopping Center at 1708 Victoria Avenue in Ventura, (this space was previously home to a Daphne's Greek Cafe). That said...it has since closed.
According to its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GandolfosNewYorkDeli, Gandolfo's brings the taste and feel of New York's most famous sandwiches, with a meat selection that includes mouth-watering cuts of brisket pastrami, lean corned beef, roasted turkey, roast beef, apple-smoked ham, chicken breast and Italian specialties of salami and cappicola.
The Westlake Plaza, located at 980 South Westlake Boulevard, between Townsgate and Agoura Roads, has been in the public eye quite a bit recently as a result of tree removals.
According to the City of Thousand Oaks, permits are in place for Regency Center to:
Allow exterior renovations, parking, and landscaping changes;
Allow the pruning of 36 trees, encroachment into the protected zone of 40 oak trees, and the removal of 26 oak trees;
Allow the pruning of 26 and removal of 9 landmark trees, and encroachment into the protected zone of 35 landmark trees; and
Allow a 900 SF addition to an existing building and the construction of two new buildings for a total of 9000 SF
City Council an Regency Centers are in process of addressing public concerns about the tree removals and working to improve public outreach. Permitting documents are located at ci.thousand-oaks.ca.us/government/depts/community/westlake_plaza_regency_centers/default.asp and local newspaper are closely following the situation.
But let's talk about the new restaurants planned for the plaza. Right now, this 281,000 sq ft plaza is anchored by major tenants, Sprouts Farmers Market, Vons and Gelsons and is accompanied by a variety of eateries and businesses, including Natural Cafe, Galleto, Tuscany, Fins, East Coast Bagel, Sweet Arleen's, The Sea Casa, Jamba Juice, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Starbucks and Tomodachi Sushi, not to mention CVS, several banks and more.
What else is in store? Among other thngs, Pitfire Pizza, Mendocino Farms Sandwich Market, Pressed Juicery and Le Pain Quotidien.
Mendocino Farms is slated to occupy the space previously occupied by Jack's Deli that closed November 2011.
The old Jack's Deli for you local nostalgia fans. Mendocino Farms Sandwich Shop is slated to open its 9th location at this spot.For updates, Westlake Plaza regularly posts new information on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/WestlakePlazaAndCenter.
Update February 2015: Old Town Tavern closed the last weekend of January. Here's a comment from the eatery on its Facebook page "we lost our lease and moving to moorpark with a new concept called Kraftap stay tuned!"
Update 5/4/14: Old Town Tavern Camarillo is now open for business.
Today (4/17/14), The French Bulldog Bistro & Lounge announced on its Facebook page that it closed its doors this past Monday, April 14th, but will "be re-opening with a new look and concept on May 2nd." No other details at this point but the indicate the new concept will appeal to a wider audience.
The former The French Bulldog is located at 2433 Ventura Boulevard in Old Town Camarillo. It originally opened in March 2012. Prior to that, JJ Brewsky's was at this historic location.
There's a sign on the door that indicates "The Old Town Tavern" is coming soon. Stay tuned...
On a historic note, this building was established in 1916 by Joseph F. Lewis & Sons, making it nearly 100 years old! The building originally housed a department store, confectionery store, barber shop, the Farmers Bank of Camarillo and the Knob Hill Garage.
Update May 2014: Lazy Dog is opening in June. Updates on Maria's at www.mariasitaliankitchen.com/blog/marias-fast-casual.
View of the new Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar at The Collection from the 101 Freeway
Originally posted August 2013:
The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard recently announced that The Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar and Maria's Italian Kitchen Pronto are scheduled to open in spring 2014.
With 12 locations and several more on tap, the Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar has become known for its warm, comfortable, yet exciting lodge-like setting that is the perfect dining spot for all ages for a quick dinner with the family, a meandering meal with friends or a night out on the town. Lazy Dog has a popular location at The Oaks in Thousand Oaks.
Maria’s Italian Kitchen Pronto offers great Italian food at affordable and reasonable prices served quickly or on-the-go, with nine locations.
Other upcoming new additions coming to The Collection include Settebello Pizzeria, scheduled to open in September, Famous Dave’s, and Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill, both scheduled to open in late 2013.
Other restaurants and eateries already open at the 650,000-square-foot center are Kabuki Jap
This is not recent news but hey, we need to keep track of this important stuff...the former home of Golden Spoon Agoura Hills at 5891 Kanan Road was re-opened as a Pizza Hut I believe sometime late last year. Golden Spoon had closed its doors on January 1, 2013. Yes, not very exciting news, but hey, you may be craving a pizza someday and will thank me for this. (818) 991-7508 www.PizzaHut.com
Thanks to a tip from Bryan D, we see that Stir Krazy Mongolian Grill is "coming soon" to 652 E. Janss Road in Thousand Oaks in the former home of Greenhouse Cafe, which closed on December 31, 2011. Good to see this space is finally going to be occupied again after almost 2 1/2 years. Stay tuned.
UPDATE 7/6/14 and 1/3/15: No updates...
In previous posts here on Conejo Valley Guide, it was announced that the 240,000 sq ft Shoppes at Westlake Village development will be home to anchors Target and Total Woman Gym & Spa when it opens this summer. Additional tenants include In N Out Burger, Olio e Limone Ristorante, Olio Pizzeria, Hook Burger and Jeannine's Bakery & Restaurant.
Several new tenants have since been announced.
Greens Up serves up tasty, freshly prepared salad meals in a matter of minutes using the finest, locally grown, sustainable produce at its two locations in Santa Monica. This summer it will bring its chef selection salads and "create your own" salads as well as fresh juices to its third location in Westlake Village. Learn more at www.greensupsalads.com.
Los Agaves Restaurant originated in Santa Barbara and serve family traditional Mexican recipes hand crafted from the finest ingredients. Specialties include Chiles Nortenos, Los Agaves Enchiladas, Mole, Ceviche and Sea & Earth Molcajete. Learn more at www.los-agaves.com.
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