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.
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 10/21/16: Finally the day has come for Blast City Laser Tag to open its doors on Friday, October 28, 2016 at 5pm.
Original Post: 10/11/15:
If you're a Kids World Indoor Playground visitor on Lindero Canyon Road (corner of Kanan) in Oak Park, you may have noticed an additional sign to the right of Kids World, "Blast City Laser Tag." A brief call to Kids World confirmed that they are opening up this new laser tag venue with a target date of sometime in early 2016. So stay tuned...
Laser tag seems to be on a roll. Recently Laser Tag Westlake opened at The Stadium in Westlake Village. LazerTag Extreme opened in the Wood Ranch section of Simi Valley in July 2013. There's a laser tag area at Sky High Sports in Camarillo too. And Golf N Stuff Ventura has a laser tag area that is currently closed for refurbishment.
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.
Final Update: KreAsian Kitchen closed its doors sometime in early 2020.
Update 10/5/16: KreAsian Kitchen opened today. That was quick!
Can you say, "Spicy Tuna Burrito"?
Posted 9/15/16:
Amelia S once again have the heads up via the Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Page that a new eatery is coming to the North Ranch Mall at 3845 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Westlake Village at the former home of Dejaun Jewelers.
The place is called KreAsian Kitchen and although its website at www.KreAsiankitchen.com is not currently up and running (as of 9/15/16), we were able to glean a little more about this new place with the tagline "Making the World Better, One Stomach at a Time" from a craigslist job posting: "KreAsian Kitchen is now rolling and bowling in Westlake Village. We are a Create Your Own Asian Kitchen were diners can build their own Rolls, Bowls, and Sushi Burritos. Fast Casual dining setting."
The VC Reporter noted today that Watermark on Main and W20 Rooftop Lounge at 598 E. Main Street in Ventura closed its doors today. It originally opened in 2008. It was also noted that the owners, who also own the building, anticipate renting the building out to restaurateurs that plan to open Limon y Sal.
A photo posted by Watermark W20 Lounge (@watermarkw20) on
UPDATE: Mali Cuisine is now closed (sometime in 2021).
Mali Cuisine Fro-Yo and Fresh Asian Food is open at Lincoln Oaks Village strip mall at 140 W. Hillcrest Drive, #111 in Thousand Oaks, next to Establos Meat Market. Mali opened today for its self-serve frozen yogurt and I'm told that on October 14th will start serving up Southeast Asia authentic recipes.
Mali's menu will include charbroiled rice dishes, sandwiches, pan fried noodles, noodle soups and salads. Mint leaf chicken, Korean BBQ ribs, orange chicken, curry chicken, grilled salmon, Pad Thai, Asian Spicy Spaghetti Noodle, ramen noodle soup and other tasty looking items will be on its menu, mostly in the $8 to $10 range.
Open daily 11am to 9pm. Call 805.230.3056 for more information.
They are hiring too at ventura.craigslist.org/fbh/5807120580.html.
The County of Ventura Environmental Health Division (EHD) protects public health and the environment by ensuring conformance with State laws and County ordinances pertaining to food protection, hazardous materials, hazardous waste, individual sewage disposal systems, land use, medical waste, ocean water quality monitoring, recreational health, solid waste, underground fuel tanks and vector control.
The EHD publishes food facility closures at www.ventura.org/rma/envhealth/community-services/consumer-food/closures.html.
The following facility closures were noted in September 2016. Keep in mind when reviewing this that there are many possible reasons for the closures, most of which are very temporary issues.
CJ's BBQ, 480 South Victoria Avenue, Oxnard;
Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions;
Date closed - 09/29/16; No reopen date
Pho Oxnard, 722 N. Ventura Road, Oxnard;
Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions;
Date closed - 09/29/16; Date reopened - 09/30/16
City Buffet, 1600 Ives Ave., Oxnard;
Inoperable refrigeration resulting in inadequate refrigeration and unsafe food temperatures;
Date closed - 09/28/16; No reopen date
Hong Kong Inn, 435 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura;
Rodent infestation, unsanitary conditions;
Date closed - 09/26/16; Date reopened - 09/28/16
Subway, 3301 E. Main Street, #2551, Ventura;
No hot water available at the facility to properly wash hands or for utensil washing;
Date closed - 09/26/16; Date reopened - 09/27/16
Mexican Express, 10235 Telephone Road, Ventura
Rodent and fly infestation, unsanitary conditions;
Date closed - 09/20/16; Date reopened - 09/21/16
Channel Islands Boating Center, 3880 Bluefin Circle, Oxnard;
No hot water available at the facility to properly wash hands or for utensil washing;
Date closed - 09/15/16; Date reopened - 09/23/16
L & L Hawaiian BBQ, 321 W. Esplanade Drive, #20, Oxnard;
Serious and repeated violations, failure to adhere to a compliance agreement;
Date closed - 09/14/16; Date reopened - 09/14/16
Reyes Creek Bar & Grill, 26905 Scheideck Road, Maricopa;
Rodent infestation, unsanitary conditions
Date closed - 09/14/16; Date reopened - 09/15/16
Pho Oxnard, 722 N. Ventura Road, Oxnard;
Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions, no permit to operate;
Date closed - 09/14/16; Date reopened - 09/16/16
Surfside Seafood, 550 Surfside Drive, Port Hueneme;
No hot water available at the facility to properly wash hands or for utensil washing;
Date closed - 09/13/16; Date reopened - 09/14/16
Mariscos Nayarita, 3045 South Saviers Road, Oxnard;
No permit to operate, remodeling without permits, no plans submitted;
Date closed - 09/13/16; No reopen date
Beanscene Cafe & Wine Bar, 610 Lindero Canyon Road, Oak Park;
Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions;
Date closed -09/12/16; Date reopened - 09/14/16
Island Squeeze Cafe, 3301 E. Main Street 1072, Ventura;
Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions;
Date closed -09/08/16; Date reopened - 09/11/16
Island Squeeze, 3301 E. Main Street K103, Ventura;
Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions;
Date closed - 09/08/16; Date reopened 09/09/16
Now, 185 E. Santa Clara Avenue, Ventura;
Cockroach and rodent infestation, unsanitary conditions;
Date closed - 09/06/16; Date reopened - 09/08/16
Baskin Robbins, 2823 Agoura Road, Thousand Oaks;
No operable toilet for employee use;
Date closed - 09/02/16; Date reopened 09/02/16
La Fiesta Mexican Grill, 14711 Princeton Ave., Moorpark;
Rodent and cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions;
Date closed - 09/01/2016; Date reopened - 09/02/16
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