Cafe and Dance Studio, "Connections Cafe" and "Builders of a Better World" Look to Open in Agoura Hills

/

Next Thursday, December 4th, the City of Agoura Hills Planning Commission will be reviewing an application for the operation of a dance studio, cafe, and outdoor dining area in the Agoura Village Center at 29020 Agoura Road. The proposed name of the cafe is "Connections Cafe" and the dance studio will be called "Builders of a Better World." The applicant described the concept as a destination for locals in search of community through dance or the simple act of grabbing a cup of coffee and a bite to eat. The project calls for a 2,272 sq ft cafe, 5,351 sq ft dance studio, and 662 sq ft of outdoor dining area. Agoura Hills city staff is recommending approval of the project.

The proposed space is at the southwest corner of the center, in the space formerly occupied by Prime Steakhouse, Chapter 8 Steak House & Lounge, Sunset Room, BL Dancehall & Saloon, and long ago, Hamburger Hamlet.

UPDATE: At the planning commission meeting, we learned that this represents a local owner of the Dance Master’s Studio in Agoura Hills. The project was approved by the planning commission.

Cava Coming to the Westlake Plaza

/

No sign up yet, but they are working away on the future Cava at the Westlake Plaza, 968 S. Westlake Blvd, in Westlake Village in the former Natural Cafe. Cava offers Mediterranean bowls and pitas with shawarma, falafel, lamb, steak, hummus and more in a fast-casual setting. The nearest existing Cava location is at 6256 Topanga Canyon Blvd in Woodland Hills. The first Cava opened in 2011 in Maryland and it has grown to 415 locations across the U.S. You can put your money where your mouth is with Cava, which went public with its stock (symbol CAVA) in 2023. It has a current market cap of $5.6 billion. More info at cava.com. 

Currently taking applications at cava.com/careers.

Sign is up as of mid-January

Sender One to Open Climbing Gym at Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks in 2027

/

On Wednesday, Sender One announced that it will be opening a 24,000 sq ft full-service climbing gym at Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks in 2027. The gym will feature Sender City interactive climbing center, bouldering, rope climbing, fitness, and yoga. Learn more and sign up for updates at www.sender.one/thousandoaks.

Other Sender One locations near LAX, Santa Ana, Playa Vista, Westwood, and Lakewood, with an Aliso Viejo location planned for 2026.

Cedro Italian Restaurant in Newbury Park Announces It Is Closing on November 23rd

/

Cedro Italian Restaurant in Newbury Park posted this announcement to its Instagram Story yesterday, indicating it will be serving its last meal on Sunday, November 23rd. The owners will be re-opening at a new location in East Los Angeles. Cedro is located in the former Stella's at 2385 Michael Drive, where it opened on January 18, 2024. cedrorestaurant.com

For a compilation of Italian eateries in and around the Conejo Valley, visit THIS LINK.

EōS Fitness Has Acquired Gold's Gyms in Thousand Oaks and 22 Other So Cal Locations

/

EōS Fitness has acquired the Gold’s Gym at Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks as part of a broader transaction involving 23 gyms. This acquisition expands EōS Fitness’s footprint to 46 locations across Southern California. The Thousand Oaks Gold's, as well as locations in Simi Valley and Oxnard, will continue operating under the EōS brand.

EōS Fitness is a U.S.-based gym chain whose name is inspired by Eos, the Greek goddess of the dawn. The brand uses this symbolism to represent new beginnings, energy, and transformation—core themes in fitness and personal growth. Learn more at eosfitness.com. 

Caltrans Announces Thousands of Native Plants to Bloom on the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing in Agoura Hills

/

Beth Pratt prepares the first plant for planting atop the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing

Caltrans announced last week that a major addition has started on the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing – the world’s largest of its kind that will connect open space on both sides of US 101 in Agoura Hills. Approximately 5,000 native plants will be installed atop the bridge, scheduled for completion in fall 2026.

The collection of native plants includes coastal sage scrub species such as California aster, a source of pollen and nectar for bees; purple sage, which attracts hummingbirds; hoaryleaf ceanothus, which acts as a shelter for small wildlife; narrowleaf milkweed that is critical to the survival of monarch butterflies; bush sunflowers and scarlet bugler. The new habitat will support the movement of native species like mountain lions, bobcats, deer, foxes and pollinators while reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions and the genetic isolation caused by freeways.

This progress is the result of years of preparation by a team of biologists, horticulturists, soil scientists, engineers, and indigenous species experts. Since 2021, a dedicated native plant nursery collected more than 1.1 million seeds representing over 50 local plant varieties, all sourced from within five miles of the bridge site. These seeds will sustain a resilient, drought-tolerant ecosystem atop the crossing, carefully designed to support native wildlife and restore connectivity to critical habitats.

In total, the surrounding 13-acre project area will be revitalized with approximately 50,000 native plants and trees, including coast live oak, valley oak, ceanothus, sage species, California buckwheat, and milkweed to support pollinators like monarch butterflies. Irrigation systems integrated into the bridge design will ensure plant survival while reducing fire risk.

The project is led by a coalition of partners, including Caltrans, the National Park Service, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, the National Wildlife Federation, the SAMO Fund and Rock Design Associates.

The public is invited to follow construction on the bridge in real-time through its dedicated webcam and learn more about the Save LA Cougar’s #P22Legacy Campaign phase at savelacougars.org and the Wildlife Crossing Fund at wildlifecrossingfund.org.