Sears Holdings Announces it Will Close 100 to 120 Stores - Will Ventura County Stores Be Impacted?

Sears Holdings Corporation on Tuesday, December 27th announced that it will be closing 100 to 120 of its stores (including Sears and Kmart stores). In Ventura County there are Sears stores at the Pacific View Mall in Ventura and adjacent to the Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks. There are Kmart stores in Camarillo and Santa Paula.

Will these four stores be impacted?

Well today Sears announced the first 80 of these 100 to 120 store closings and...(drum roll)...whew, so far we are safe in Ventura County.  The list at www.searsmedia.com includes 39 Kmart closings and 41 Sears/Grand and Essentials stores on this initial list. Only 3 California stores were on the list, including El Monte and two in San Diego.

So, local Sears and Kmart fans, you can keep shopping for the time being.

Cell Phone Safety for Children Message from the Moorpark Police Department

During this year’s holiday gift giving, many parents have decided to give their children cellular telephones. Most new phones fall under a Smartphone category, which means they are capable of performing many tasks other than just being a telephone. The commonly used tasks by kids are texting, sending photos, social networking, downloading music, watching videos, playing games and then of course using it as a telephone.

Cell phones can be a great safety feature for your children, and a lifeline. However, it is important that your child is mature enough to understand the hazards of cell phone use. With more advancement in cellular technology, comes the responsibility for parents to manage cell phone use by our children. Sending pictures over the Internet is something that is common for children to do these days. Photo messaging on cell phones is no different. Children need to be aware that not all pictures are appropriate to send and receive. They also need to know that if they receive a message or image that makes them uncomfortable, they should immediately tell you or another trusted adult. Not deleting the inappropriate material before showing an adult is best, so the adult can better assess the issue and present the problem to law enforcement authorities if necessary.

Moorpark Police Cell Phone Quick List of Do’s and Do not’s

1. Send appropriate text, email, or picture messages only.
2. Do not give out your address or other personal information on a phone call, text, or email to
3. people you don’t know, or if others can hear you.
4. Do not respond to an email, text, picture, or voice message from someone you don’t know.
5. Tell an adult you trust if you receive anything on your phone—a call, a text message, an email, a picture, or voicemail message—that makes you uncomfortable.
6. Be aware of your surroundings and understand when talking or texting is appropriate and when it is not.

Finally, for those who can drive, never ever talk or text while driving.

No Mann's Land - The Final Remaining Mann Theatre in Westlake Village to Close on Tuesday, December 27th

The Mann Theatre at The Promenade at Westlake closed on December 27, 2011, as mentioned in this Dec 22 San Fernando Valley Business Journal article.

This was the last of the Mann theaters. Recently the Mann Theaters at the Janss Marketplace were sold to Regency Theaters and earlier this year the Mann Chinese Theater was sold and now is simply called Chinese Theatre.

The space will be taken over by Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas, which will open a high-end theater with plush seating and waiters. Nice! Sounds like a Muvico competitor! This VIP concept has been in place since 1999 in Mexico and they are quickly expanding into Southern California.

Cinépolis is the 4th largest movie theater chain in the world, which is news to me. Probably because most of their 230 theaters worldwide are in Mexico.

2 New Freebirds World Burritos Opening in Agoura Hills and Simi Valley in December

Freebirds World Burrito is opening has opened two new local locations at 29125 Canwood St, Agoura Hills (Shoppes at Oak Creek - you can see it off the 101 freeway) and at 2490 Sycamore Drive, Simi Valley (Sycamore Square).

Freebirds opened it first Ventura County location in Ventura back in June 2011.

More information about the grand openings at freebirds.com/locations/. I suspect there will be some grand opening events announced, so stay tuned.

FREEBIRDS is about awesome burritos and freedom of choice.   As guests join the queue, they are partnered with a team member, known as a "Roller," who helps them choose from four sizes of burrito made from four possible flavors of tortilla then hand-rolled with the guest's personal selection from more than forty freshly prepared ingredients including grass fed beef, hormone-free chicken, or all natural pork carnitas topped with hand-cut veggies and hot peppers plus house made salsas, queso and guacamole to create their perfect burrito.  Burritos range in size from the generously-sized Hybird starting at $5.29 to the legendary Super Monster which can weigh in at seven pounds. 

Each FREEBIRDS restaurant features the concept's signature Statue of Liberty – affectionately known as 'Libby' – riding a custom-built motorcycle while breaking through the Freedom Wall. Libby was designed to serve as a reminder that each of us can break through walls and truly change the world.  The restaurant has a free-spirited ambience with a rockin' soundtrack, reminiscent of a late-'60s rock 'n' roll roadhouse.

Moorpark Police Department Stranger Danger Basic Rules to Teach Children

Moorpark Police Department Release Dated 12/19/11

On 12/16/11, Andres Lazaro Bautista, a 49 year old Moorpark resident, was arrested after a two week investigation which indicated Bautista had been annoying young school aged children in the area of downtown Moorpark. Bautista had been making lewd and obscene gestures to girls ranging from the age of 9 years old to 14 years old.

These children had been walking to the bus loading area located at Flory Elementary School. Bautista committed these crimes towards the children as they walked from their residences to the bus stop.

The Moorpark School Resource Officer along with Moorpark Detectives learned of these crimes and conducted a two-week investigation on Bautista. At least seven victims of the crime have come forward and identified Bautista as the suspect.

The Moorpark Police Department encourages parents to speak to their children and remind them of the dangers of strangers in their neighborhoods and abroad. Three basics rules to teach children if a stranger approaches:

1) YELL, “GET AWAY!”
2) SAY, “NO!”
3) TELL A SAFE ADULT

Bandits' Barbecue is a Home Grown Local Favorite in Thousand Oaks and Camarillo

I first moved to the Conejo Valley in 1993. Back then there were nowhere near the number of restaurants we have in the area today, but there were some good ones.  One of them was Bandits' BBQ in Thousand Oaks. In its original location in a small boxy restaurant behind the El Pollo Loco on Moorpark Road, I remember standing in line to order BBQ and usually taking a big bag of delicious BBQ to go. Occasionally I would eat in the small restaurant, grabbing a ice cold mug of beer to go with the food. Bandits was a local hole in the wall "secret" back then.

Today, Bandits is located in a nearly brand new HUGE stand-alone, beautiful restaurant/bar adjacent to the old location and the Janss Marketplace Car Wash and the food is better than ever.  Bandits has a fun, Western feel to it. Everything I've ever eaten at Bandits is delicious, including ribs, tri-tip, BBQ pulled pork sandwich, burgers, sandwiches. Everything. But I do like to eat "healthy" so I often order the Barbecue Chopped Salad or the Tri-Tip Salad.  Be prepared to eat half the salad and take the rest home, as portions are huge.

Recently I dined at Bandits Thousand Oaks with my 7 year old. I value his opinion on restaurants, but actions speak louder than words.  The way he downed his BBQ pulled pork sandwich and corn on the cob, followed up by his Build-Your-Own-Sundae, it was quite obvious he LOVED the food.  He also thoroughly enjoyed the entertaining kids' menu games and puzzles.  As I kicked back with my kid, cold beer and delicious food, I observed many, many families enjoying the woodsy, busy, buzzing atmosphere of Bandits.

As of March 2010, all the kids meals on the "Young'un Menu" for kids 10 and under were $4.99, including beverage. Meals include tri-tip sandwich, tri-tip plate, cheeseburger, mini corn dog, chicken strips, BBQ pulled pork sandwich, grilled cheese or baby back ribs (these were $6.99 for 4 ribs), plus choice of side.  The sundae was only $1.79.

I'm also a fan of the Camarillo Bandits in Old Town Camarillo. Quality of the food here is consistent with Thousand Oaks.  This location is not quite as large as Thousand Oaks but big enough, also with a Western feel, with a hitching post saloon! What I like at this location is the huge barrel of peanuts that you scoop up, place on your table, then throw the shells on the ground (at least that's what I do...it's cool...its part of the atmosphere). Problem is, sometimes I eat so many peanuts I have little room left for my meal!

More recently Bandits has expanded their menu with more healthful choices, including more salads and fish dishes. I recently (December 2011) tried the red trout lunch (see pic) and thoroughly enjoyed it. So if you aren't a big red meat eater, there's plenty of alternatives available.

Bandits locations are at 589 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks (805.497.7427) and 1980 Ventura Boulevard, Camarillo (805.445.4742). Visit www.banditsbbq.com for more information.

Original Tommy's Coming Soon to Ventura

Update 12/15/11: Tommy's opened today at 5663 Valentine Road, Ventura! Open 24 hours a day. Facebook page

Early Sept Update: Tommy's indicated in late August that the Ventura location will open "at the end of this year or sooner."

These burgers must have a kick as evidenced by the legs on this sign!Originally posted in mid-July: Original Tommy's will soon be opening in Ventura, off the Victoria Avenue 101 exit on Valentine Road. This will be the 2nd Original Tommy's location in Ventura County...the other one is at 1290 Madera Road in Simi Valley.

The ORIGINAL Tommy's opened on May 15, 1946 in Downtown Los Angeles. I remember going there as a kid. Always felt like a special treat.

Visit Facebook page at www.facebook.com/OriginalTommys.