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.
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UPDATE: Opened in late June 2017. www.cafebizou.com
Cafe 14 closed its doors in July at 30315 Canwood Street, Agoura Hills. Opening soon at this location will be Cafe Bizou, which has other locations in Sherman Oaks and Pasadena, serving up French and American style food. Seafood, steaks, pasta, sandwiches, salads and more.
Update: Pokistop is now open as of late December.
All signs indicate a new eatery, Pokistop Poke & Roll, 1263 Simi Town Center Way, Suite H-5, in the space previously (and quite briefly) occupied by Cre8 Pizza. The signs are up though and a "doing business as" filing was published on October 26th. So stay tuned.
Update: Habanero Mexican Grill opened in mid-February.
Sign indicating a transfer of a alcoholic beverage serving license has been applied for. It is definitely a must to have a cold beer or margarita with your fajitas.
A new Mexican eatery called Habanero Mexican Grill is coming in the near future to the Thousand Oaks Marketplace, 520 N. Ventu Park Road, near Walmart Neighborhood Market, Walgreens and the Drive-Thru Starbucks. This new eatery will occupy a space of approximately 2,800 sq ft. Stay tuned for more information.
Janchi is now open. With 35 booths and tables, Janchi is a self-grill restaurant with individual grills where diners can select and cook from marinated beef short ribs, brisket, beef tongue, shrimp, scallops and other items. There's also a grilled in the kitchen menus featuring marinated meats and seafood.
Update 11/19/16: Was told at 10:45am today that grand opening has been pushed to this coming Wednesday but a portion of the restaurant will be open for a "soft opening" until then
Update 11/17/16: An email came in at 1:41 PM today from Kevin L of Janchi Korean BBQ and Bar. He indicate that Janchi will be having its grand opening on Saturday, November 19th (yes, that's just two days from today) with limited seating. Hours of operation are 11:30am to 2:30pm and 5pm to 10:30pm. He indicates the bar is currently beer and wine only. Their phone is 805-370-1777.
Update 10/9/16: Still no specifics on timing but they have the permanent Janchi Korean BBQ signs up!
Originally posted 6/5/16:
A public notice of application to sell alcoholic beverages has been made at the former homes of TGI Fridays and the short-lived DISH Restaurant (that vacated the space on November 14, 2013 after a 14 month stint). The name of the business is Janchi Korean BBQ and Bar. No other information at this time, but stay tuned.
What does janchi (잔치) mean in English? "Feast" or "banquet." And there ya have it. For now, at least.
Thanks to Hilary A for the heads up on the Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Page today.
Update 12/28/16: CVG Facebook Page follower Sara T. informed us that she ate at the newly opened Westlake Village Cici's today at its soft opening. She confirmed the long awaited restaurant was open to the general public.
Update 11/16/16: I'm told "real soon" for the grand opening. Possibly within the week but a specific date was not known. 818.881.6704
Update 10/6/16: Lots of construction progress and it looks like Cici's Cafe may open within the next month or two, according to someone working at the site. But we shall see. The sign is up... "Cici's Salt & Pepper...Sugar & Cream."
Posted 12/31/15: There's a sign on the door of the former The Counter eatery at 30990 Russell Ranch Road in Westlake Village (sandwiched between Barone's Pizzeria and Aroha New Zealand Cuisine) stating that Cici's is now hiring all positions.
What is Cici's? Well, the phone number given is the Cici's Cafe located on Ventura Boulevard in Tarzana. The Cici's Facebook page indicates the eatery opened in 2006 and serves breakfast and lunch with "scrumptious" (I love that word) pancakes, french toast, omelettes, salads and wraps.
There are over 1,800 reviews of Cici's on Yelp, with an average rating a solid 4 1/2. Sounds promising! No other information currently available on timing, but stay tuned...
Update 10/24/16: Loren G provided the following photo indicating Jinky's Chili Cafe is "closed for an extended amount of time." Hmm, that doesn't sound good.
Update June 2016: Jinky's Chili Cafe is now open. Details at www.jinkys.com/Chili.html or call 805.379.2911.
Sue B alerted us via the Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Page that Jinky's Chili Cafe is opening soon at the former short-lived home of a Haagen Dazs shop at North Ranch Plaza, 3825 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Westlake Village. Nestled between Jersey Mike's and Dickey's BBQ Pit, this latest iteration of Jinky's looks and sounds interesting.
Jinky's has five current locations, including Jinky's Kanan Cafe on Canwood Street in Agoura Hills and Jinky's Cafe Thousand Oaks in Oakbrook Plaza. Specializing in delicious breakfasts also serving up lunch, dinner and a wide range of chilis. Learn more at www.jinkys.com.
Michael M filled us in (and snapped the photo below to show us) that Village Bakery & Cafe has opened in the Agoura Hills City Mall at 5879 Kanan Road, in the former home of Bruegger's Bagels, which closed in 2013. Visit vbakerycafe.com for more information.
Update Oct 2016: The new drive-thru Starbucks at the Simi Valley Town Center is open.
Posted 1/20/16:
Joining a trend that has brought drive thru Starbucks to Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Camarillo and other locations in recent years, the Simi Valley Town Center today announced on its Facebook page that a drive thru Starbucks is "coming soon."
Thanks a latte for the heads up, Starbucks!
Update 10/8/16: Jimmy John's Newbury Park is now open
Posted 9/2/16: There's a sign up at the Thousand Oaks Marketplace, southeast corner of Ventu Park Road and Hillcrest Drive in Newbury Park, that Jimmy John's Sandwiches is now hiring. Grand opening date has not been announced as of yet. This Newbury Park location will join other Ventura County area Jimmy John's in Camarillo, Ventura and Moorpark. Learn more at jimmyjohns.com.
The Thousand Oaks Marketplace is also home to a new Drive Thru Starbucks, Walmart Neighborhood Market, Walgreens, Hampton Inn and Chase Bank.
Also slated for the center are Great Clips, Postal Annex, a Mexican restaurant (TBA), Chinese restaurant (TBA) and other tenants.
And for local history buffs...roughly 22 years ago, long before a Hampton Inn and Walmart graced this location, the Conejo Valley Ice Skating Center operated there until 1994 after 17 years in business*. The building was under lease from Home Depot that was located next door at the time. The operator of the Center built a new ice rink that opened in November 1994 - the Iceoplex Ice Skating Rink in Simi Valley.
The Conejo Valley used to have roller skating, ice skating and bowling, but no more.
Although trails, parks, movie theaters, shopping and eating out seem to be the most popular activities around the Conejo Valley, there are indeed a variety of other things to do...check out this list of close to 50 activities in and around the Conejo Valley.
* See L.A. Times article at THIS LINK.
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