January 30, 2023

Drive-Thru Dunkin Donuts and Daycare Center Coming to Conejo Gateway Plaza in Newbury Park

January 30, 2023/ Conejo Joe

A drive-thru Dunkin’ (aka Dunkin Donuts and The Learning Experience children’s daycare center have signed leases at the Conejo Gateway plaza at the corner of Wendy Drive and Old Conejo Road in Newbury Park

Dunkin’ will be located on an 1,800 square foot building pad, with outdoor seating areas. The Learning Experience will be 9,900 square foot building with a fenced outdoor play area.

Timing TBA. Construction has not commenced yet but sections of the plaza have been fenced.

Last month we mentioned that another new tenant, Pizza Twist, is coming soon to the plaza, next to Sports Clips.

January 29, 2023

Finney's Crafthouse & Kitchen to Open Location at the Camarillo Premium Outlets on Monday, January 30th

January 29, 2023/ Conejo Joe

Finney's Crafthouse & Kitchen is opening its newest location tomorrow, Monday, January 30th, at the Camarillo Premium Outlets. Located in the Promenade section of the outlets, near Cracker Barrel. Finney's serves starters, salads, flatbread pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, wings, tacos along with craft beers, cocktails and more in a casual, tavern-like setting.

Finney's opened its first location at the Westlake Plaza in September 2016 and has grown to eight, soon to be ten locations, including local Ventura County ones in Westlake Village (Thousand Oaks), Camarillo and Ventura. Founded by restaurateur Greg Finefrock (pronounced FinneyFrock) in 2016, Finney's is truly a local success story. www.finneyscrafthouse.com

January 25, 2023

El Sanchito Mexican Eatery Now Open in the North Ranch Mall in Thousand Oaks

January 25, 2023/ Conejo Joe

The El Sancho Loco Taqueria 2nd Conejo Valley location at the North Ranch Shopping Center (Trader Joe's/Ralphs/BJs) in Thousand Oaks is still in process of being built. BUT...in the meantime, they have opened a quick service eatery on the side called El Sanchito, where you can order a variety of Mexican specialties to go. They are currently in "soft opening" mode. No phone number or website at this point - hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

January 21, 2023

Reynalda Cucina & Amor Mexican Restaurant Now Open in Thousand Oaks

January 21, 2023/ Conejo Joe

Thanks to a tip from Alex H, we learned that Reynalda Cucina & Amor just opened (last Thursday) at 2865 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks (Crown & Anchor, Tile City), in the former Armando's Tacos location. They serve Mexican specialties like tacos, tortas, huaraches, burritos, nachos and more. Hand-made tortillas available too. 805-852-8116 (No website yet but they have an Instagram page at @reynaldacucinaamor.

January 17, 2023

Sweetfin Poke at The Promenade at Westlake in Thousand Oaks Opens June 2nd

January 17, 2023/ Conejo Joe

UPDATE: Grand opening is Friday, June 2nd. www.facebook.com/events/3462835693994721

Sweetfin Poke is "coming soon" to The Promenade at Westlake to the space between Barnes & Noble and Brighton. " Sweetfin is a healthful, California-inspired poke and plant-based bowl concept that uses local produce, sustainable fish and innovative ingredients. Their entire chef-driven menu is gluten-free and all of their menu items are made in-house from scratch daily." Other locations throughout Los Angeles, including one on Topanga Canyon Blvd in Woodland Hills. www.sweetfin.com

December 31, 2022

Freda's Pizza & Woodfired Kitchen is Now Open in Westlake Village

December 31, 2022/ Conejo Joe

What a lucky find on this rainy New Year’s Eve! We just happened to be in the North Ranch Plaza at lunchtime today, Saturday, December 31, 2022, when I noticed there was a small sign on the door of Freda’s Pizza & Woodfired Kitchen. Upon closer inspection, the side said “Welcome to our soft opening - we are currently offering a limited menu.”

So OF COURSE we immediately walked in to be one of the first lucky folks to enjoy this delicious pizza. Freda’s serves NY style and brick oven pizzas and also offers it by the slice, which was my preference today. We tried the Cheese, Margherita and a pizza topped with Short Ribs and BBQ sauce, all of which tickled our taste buds. I was particularly impressed with the crust - it crunch, but not burnt, and not soggy whatsoever. It was perfect.

Learn more at www.fredaswoodfiredkitchen.com.

December 26, 2022

Pizza Twist is Now Open in the Conejo Gateway Plaza in Newbury Park

December 26, 2022/ Conejo Joe

UPDATE 6/6/23: Pizza Twist Newbury Park is now open.

Yet another new local eatery coming in the new year. Pizza Twist will be located in the Conejo Gateway Plaza at 711 Wendy Drive in Newbury Park. Pizza Twist makes pizzas that you’ve probably never tasted before, with fresh cut vegetables, dough that’s made daily and fresh ingredients. Pizza Twist offers a variety of pizzas that include Traditional Pizzas, Twist Fusion Pizzas, Chicken Tikka Masala, Butter Chicken and Curry Chicken. They also offer Gluten Free (Cauliflower Crust) & Vegan Options, along with wings, pastas, breadsticks, calzones & lots more. Learn more at www.chicagospizzatwist.com

December 26, 2022

Board & Brew Coming Soon to The Shoppes at Westlake Village (Soft Opening May 12th)

December 26, 2022/ Conejo Joe

UPDATE: Soft opening of Board & Brew Westlake Village was May 12, 2023

As mentioned in September, "Board & Brew" will be coming soon to The Shoppes at Westlake Village, serving specialty sandwiches and craft beer. It will be located in the former Pick Up Stix location across from Guitar Center. boardandbrew.com

Timing TBA.

UPDATE: We’ve heard the May time frame.

December 26, 2022

Progress Slow But Steady at the Former Corrigan's Steak House in Thousand Oaks

December 26, 2022/ Conejo Joe

UPDATE 4/16/24: Signs are up at the remodeled building - “Old Oaks Steakhouse.” No specific timing at this point, but stay tuned.

Corrigan’s Steakhouse was originally opened in 1982 by Tom Corrigan, the son of legendary stuntman/actor Ray “Crash” Corrigan. Crash Corrigan passed away on August 10, 1976. Tom Corrigan passed away on March 14, 2018.

Corrigan’s Steakhouse, located at 556 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, closed its doors later that year in 2018 and it changed ownership. Since then, over the last four years, there has been slow, and more recently very steady, progress in the remodeling of the site.

Rumor has it that the new place will also be a steakhouse, with a cigar room in the back. “Old Oaks Steakhouse” is one name that has mentioned as a possibility. We shall see.

Corrigan’s Steak House did not originate at this location. Its roots were in the Park Oaks Shopping Center at Janss and Moorpark Roads in Thousand Oaks. It relocated to Thousand Oaks Blvd at Long Ct in 1990. This location has a bit of history in it, so it is good to see, as you can tell in the photos below, that some of that history has been retained.

House of Orlando Italian Restaurant operated here from 1960 to 1977. It subsequently became Le Normandie French Restaurant for awhile. Then in 1990 it became Corrigan’s.