Black Bear Diner Coming to City of Ventura in January 2022

OPENED IN JANUARY 2022

Black Bear Diner is opening its 2nd Ventura County location at 2401 E. Harbor Blvd in Ventura in January 2022. The first Black Bear Diner in Ventura County opened in Simi Valley on May 28, 2019.

Founded in 1995, Black Bear Diner is a fast-growing family restaurant serving home-style comfort food classics at over 110 locations. Breakfast is served all day, including omelettes and scrambles, classic 2-egg combos like chicken fried steak and thick-cut smoked bacon, pancakes, waffles and French toast and other items. Lunch includes burgers, sandwiches, salads and other specialties. Dinner items include a number of down home favorites like Housemade Meatloaf and Slow-Cooked Pot Roast, steaks, chicken and waffle, etc. Learn more at blackbeardiner.com.

Follow the Black Bear Diner (Ventura) Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BlackBearDinerVentura for updates.

Carrow’s Ventura closed in June 2019 - soon to be Black Bear Diner.

The Stand is Coming Soon to the Former Home of Pitfire Pizza in Westlake Village (NOW OPEN)

UPDATE 2/15/22: The Stand Westlake Village opened today.

We got the scoop from Shannon A today that The Stand is “opening soon” at what used to be Pitfire Artisan Pizza at the Westlake Plaza, 980 South Westlake Boulevard in Westlake Village.

The Stand is a popular, growing chain of fast-casual eateries offering traditional American foods - burgers, sandwiches (they call them Standwiches), hot dogs and salads - with non-traditional flavor combinations.

This will be the first Ventura County location of The Stand, as the Westlake Plaza lies firmly in the section of Westlake Village that is part of Thousand Oaks in Ventura County (as opposed to the City of Westlake Village, which is part of Los Angeles County. (Yes, this is confusing, but EXPLAINED HERE.)

Learn more about The Stand at www.thestand.com.

Pitfire Pizza closed at the beginning of the pandemic. It opened its doors on August 2, 2015.

Azuki Boba & Tea Now Open at the North Ranch Mall in Thousand Oaks

Azuki Boba & Tea “soft opened” today at the North Ranch Mall (you know….the Trader’s Joe’s/Ralph’s/Petco mall) in Thousand Oaks at the northwest corner of Westlake and Thousand Oaks Boulevards in Thousand Oaks. Soft opening is September 26-30, during which drinks are half price! They are adding new drinks each day: Day 1 Classic Milk Teas, Day 2 Galaxy Series, Day 3 Fruit Lovers, Day 4 Matcha & Latte and Day 5 House Specials.

Their Instagram page is @azukibobatea.

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Selvin's Restaurant & Lounge Coming in 2024 to the Palm Garden Hotel in Newbury Park

UPDATE 9/24/23: Selvin’s will be opening in 2024 - likely mid-June. JUNE 21ST Learn more at www.selvins.com.

UPDATE: Since this post in September 2021, the name of the eatery will now be called Selvin’s Restaurant & Lounge and is anticipated to open in early 2023. Visit selvins.com for updates.

Encore Kitchen & Bar is in process of being constructed in the former Brendan’s Pub at the Palm Garden Hotel in Newbury Park. Timing is TBA, though the hotel indicates sometime in 2021 at www.palmgardenhotel.com/dining. Encore will be serving California cuisine. Stay tuned…

Honey Cup Coffeehouse & Creamery to Open August 26th at The Village at Dos Vientos in Newbury Park

UPDATE: Honey Cup indicates it will be opening on Thursday, August 26th and will be offering free drip Lavazza coffee the 26th through the 29th, along with samples of some of their baked goods.

Photo courtesy of Grahame W.

Honey Cup Coffeehouse & Creamery is “coming soon” to The Village at Dos Vientos, 360 Via Las Brisas, #160 in Newbury Park. It will be located in the space formerly occupied by BeanoVino (closed in January 2020) and before that, Boney Mountain Coffee Co.

Honey Cup Coffeehouse has operated at the Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard since 2014. They offer coffee, smoothies, their own 805 Creams ice cream and other snacks. Learn more at www.honeycupcoffeehouseca.com.

Ma-Kin Vegan Sushi Now Open at Plaza Reyes Adobe in Agoura Hills

UPDATE: Makin Vegan opened last weekend. We tried it and it is very good!

Ma-Kin Vegan Sushi will be opening soon in the former Charm Thai restaurant space at 30313 Canwood Street, Agoura Hills (Plaza Reyes Adobe).

Their Instagram page at @makinvegan indicates 100% vegan, plant-based sushi, using mostly organic non-GMO ingredients.

Their page also indicates an August 6th "soft opening" from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm and 4:30 to 8:30 pm. Check their Instagram page for updates.

Itala Bakery & Cafe Now Open at The Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks

Itala Bakery & Cafe recently opened on the 2nd floor of The Oaks mall, east side, next to Wetzel’s Pretzels and Macy’s Men’s & Home store (and just up the escalator from the Starbucks stand). Itala offers a variety of fresh pastries including 26 layer Crepe Cakes (Rainbow Strawberry, Chocolate, Coffee, Green Tea, Coconut, Mango, others), Cannoli, Lemon Bars, Lemon Tarts, Eclairs, Pecan Bars, Tiramisu, Mexican Wedding Cookies, Macaroons, Hawaiian Cake, Double Chocolate Brownies, Chocolate Ganache, Cupcakes and more. Open daily.

Grand Opening of California Fish Grill Thousand Oaks is Monday, July 26, 2021

At last! Today, California Fish Grill announced that the grand opening of its new location at Janss Marketplace (in east parking lot - next to Wingstop and Starbucks) will be Monday, July 26, 2021. More information at www.cafishgrill.com.

They announced VERY LIMITED pre-opening Friends and Family meal specific time slots 7/21-7/24. I suspect these will fill up very quickly. See www.eventbrite.com/e/california-fish-grill-thousand-oaks-friends-family-event-tickets-163081277491

Maru Kitchen Now Open at the Westlake Plaza in Westlake Village

Maru Kitchen has been open for a week or so at the Westlake Plaza, 2725 Townsgate Road, Westlake Village. Previous occupants of this space have included Spireworks Modern Doner, Big Fish Poke and The Ice Cream Lab.

Maru serves Korean specialties like Kimchi Gumbo, Bibimbap, Kimchi Fried Rice, Korean Lettuce Wraps, Bulgogi, Galbi Tang Noodle and more. 805-371-4577