Baja Fresh Newbury Park Location Closed as of Tuesday, January 10th

Several CVG Facebook followers indicated last night that Baja Fresh located at The Village at Newbury Park on Broadbeck Drive had an eviction notice on the door.  I'm sad to say that Baja Fresh Newbury Park is now Buh Bye Fresh effective yesterday, January 10th.

We hope and trust that the employees of this location quickly find jobs elsewhere. In fact, I noticed there was a "we're hiring" sign at Presto Pasta a few doors away.

There are 10 other Baja Fresh locations in and around the Ventura County, including Camarillo (2), Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Moorpark, Simi Valley (2), Oxnard, Ventura and Calabasas. Visit www.bajafresh.com for more information.

But what makes this particularly sad from a nostalgia perspective because the very first Baja Fresh location opened in Newbury Park in 1990, at the corner of Wendy and Kimber. Ultimately that location moved over to Broadbeck Drive. So this marks the first time in 22 years that Newbury Park is without a Baja Fresh.

It is not surprising to me that this location is closed, given it is across the parking lot from a newer Chipotle and a Rubios, El Pollo Loco and Taco Bell are all within a few blocks of this location, not to mention a Sharky's in Newbury Park. Lots of competition for Mexican food.

Nate 'n Al Deli in Thousand Oaks Closed Its Doors at Lunchtime Today

Sad news. Nate 'n Al Deli at The Lakes at Thousand Oaks closed its doors at lunchtime today. Nate 'n Al, a legendary deli that has run a successful location in Beverly Hills since 1945, opened this Thousand Oaks location in November 2009 in the space previously occupied by a sushi restaurant. Recently, under new management, Nate 'n Al ran a popular Sunday brunch.

Sorry to see you close your doors, Nate 'n Al Thousand Oaks. And to your staff, best wishes in finding new local jobs. In fact, click here for some recent new restaurant openings around the county.

Lamppost Pizza Newbury Park Closing Its Doors December 4th

Well this is sad news. One of the more popular venues for hanging out after kids' sports games will be closing its doors permanently on Sunday, December 4, 2011. Lamppost Pizza has been a Newbury Park mainstay for as long as I can recall (and I've been in the Conejo Valley for 18 years) but apparently the economy has taken its toll as they announced their closing on their Facebook page 2 days ago. I always enjoy(ed) Lamppost, even when I have to deal with kids nagging me for quarters for the little toy machines.

Lamppost Newbury Park will close its doors for good at 10PM that night, according to a worker there. Their address is 2160 Newbury Road. Phone is 805.499.0303.

But the owners said that the Oak Park location (corner of Lindero and Kanan) will remain open. I actually like that location better. Their number is 818.879.2195. 

There are now actually 28, well, soon to be 27, Lamppost locations in California and Reno, Nevada. Other Ventura County locations managed by other owners include Moorpark and Simi Valley.

Jack's Deli in Westlake Village Closed Its Doors Yesterday

Jack's Deli in Westlake Village closed its doors yesterday, Sunday, November 20th. It has been a Westlake Village mainstay since opening its doors in 1976. Though in recent years I didn't eat there often due to the location of my day job, I frequented Jack's for a number of years and always enjoyed the food there. Jack's joins Roxy's Deli as an alumnus in the Conejo Valley ex-Restaurant Club. Both will be missed.

Ventura County Star Says Thousand Oaks Chili's Closed Its Doors on November 14th

On Friday, November 11th, the VC Star reported that Chili's Thousand Oaks, located at The Promenade at Westlake, has closed its doors effective today, November 14th, after serving lunch. This can be confirmed by the lack of a Chili's Thousand Oaks location on the Chili's website tonight.

The article states that most of the 50 employees are being offered jobs at other local locations in Newbury Park, Oxnard, Simi Valley and West Hills. The Newbury Park location on Newbury Road, near In N Out Burger, is only 6 miles from the Thousand Oaks location.

So this is a primo spot if you ask me, right at the juncture of Westlake and Thousand Oaks Boulevards. Hopefully we'll see a new restaurant in there soon. Who knows, maybe another Hooters (ha ha).

Terri's Cafe in Agoura Hills is Closed

While stopping by one of my favorite local running shoes, Future Track, I noticed "Available" signs posted on the windows of Terri's Cafe, 30135 Agoura Rd, Agoura Hills. Apparently Terri's Cafe has been closed for awhile, maybe a few months or so. That is too bad, as I know several people who enjoyed the place (though apparently didn't eat there often enough to keep them in business). I peeked inside and it appears everything is still inside the restaurant, tables, signs, etc.

Across the parking lot of course is the newly opened The LAB Brewing Company. I stopped inside and it does look nice in there, with its own microbrewery.

Belated News: Enoteca Toscana Wine Bistro in Camarillo Closed May 1st

Enoteca Toscana Wine Bistro in Old Town Camarillo closed on May 1st of this year. Somehow I never got wind of this one. The food was very good there in my opinion. My only beef with the place was that it was a bit on the pricey side. In fact, I specifically recall dining there several years back. We ordered something light, like a panini, along with a cup of minestrone soup. The soup was delicious. But when we received the bill, we discovered the soup was like $10. For a cup, not even a bowl. We kind of looked at each other in shock, thinking it had to be a mistake. But it wasn't. We asked. That was the price. That delicious $10 bowl of soup prevented me from other going back I hate to say...though if anyone offered to buy me lunch there, I'd certainly have gone. In any case, I know Enoteca will be missed.

Ruby's Shake Shack at the Malibu Pier "Under Transition"

UPDATE: Ruby's never made a return. It became the Malibu Farm Cafe.

It had been awhile since I ate at Ruby's Shake Shack on the Malibu Pier and as I walked down the pier toward the diner today it surprised me how uncrowded it was. Sure enough, the place was empty. At 5 p.m. on a perfect summer Saturday.

I asked the clerk across the way at the the Malibu Beach Supply Co. (which by the why has some pretty cool stuff for sale and rents fishing poles for just $5 an hour on weekends and has bait).

And she said Ruby's has been closed since last September. The Ruby's Diner website indicates "Closed for the Winter Season and under transition. Reopening date is currently unavailable."

Stay tuned...