Eateries That Opened or Closed in 2024 or are Coming Soon to the Conejo Valley and Greater Ventura County

Another year is nearly behind us, so let’s take a moment to reflect on new local area eateries that opened in 2024, eateries that are anticipated to open in the coming months, and eateries that became dearly departed in 2024.

Opened in 2024

• Neighborly Curated Food Hall Opening December 20th (updated) at The Promenade at Westlake

• Blue Agave Tacos & Beer Opening at Agoura Hills City Mall on Dec 15th

• Creole Kings Opened This Fall at The Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks

• Basta Thousand Oaks Opened on December 6

• Go Fish Sushi Thousand Oaks Opened on November 15

• American Pie Coffee House in Camarillo Opened in October

• The Loose Cannon Bar and Restaurant Opened at Ventura Harbor Village

• La La Land Kind Cafe Opened September 28 at The Promenade at Westlake

• Tilted Kilt Reopened as Oaks Local Craft Kitchen & Bar Thousand Oaks

• Da Hickory House Opened This Summer at the Camarillo Premium Outlets

• The Galloping Hen Opened November 1 in Thousand Oaks

• Plata Cocina Mexicana Opened August 24 at The Oaks Mall

• Rolling Pin Donuts Opened Ventura Location on August 28

• Isaki Sushi Opened in Newbury Park in July

• Shrimp vs Chef Opened in Thousand Oaks in July

• O-R Thai Cuisine Opened New Location in Agoura Hills

• Buster’s OG BBQ & Grill Opened in Thousand Oaks in June

• Selvin’s Restaurant & Lounge Opened June 21 in Newbury Park

• The Curry Leaf Re-Opened in Camarillo in Early June

• Former Thousand Wok Thousand Oaks Became Ling Long Asian Bistro

• Lola Betty’s Kitchen Filipino Cuisine Opened August 10 in Camarillo

• Decker Kitchen Re-Opened at the Lake Lindero Country Club

• Michoacan a Pedir de Boca Ice Cream Shop in Thousand Oaks Opened April 27

• Cafe Ficelle Opened April 10 in Thousand Oaks

• The Pan Kitchen Opened at Former Exotic Thai Westlake Village in March

• La Poblana Mexican Grill Opened in August in Thousand Oaks

• Juice & Boba Opened in Thousand Oaks in January

• Cedro Italian Restaurant Newbury Park Opened on January 18

• Mikey’s Restaurant Newbury Park Opened in January

• Bacio di Latte Gelato Puro Opened November 23 at The Promenade at Westlake

• The Cookie Cafe “Soft” Opened December 13 in Agoura Hills

• Charming Ice Bar Opened November 8 in Thousand Oaks

• Che Gelato in Moorpark Opened in July

• Moby’s on Main Opened in Ventura in June

Coming in the near future

• Bear House Acai Coming Soon to The Oaks in Thousand Oaks

• Le Macaron French Pastries Coming to Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks

• Frankie’s Breakfast Burritos Coming Soon to Agoura Hills

• TRU Bowl Superfood Bar Coming Soon to Westlake Village

• Purrrlandia Cat Lounge and Cafe Coming Soon to Thousand Oaks

• Carrara Pastries Coming Soon to Old Town Camarillo

• Fishbone Seafood Opening Soon in Thousand Oaks

• Pure Green Juice Bar Coming to Janss Marketplace Thousand Oaks

• Superba Food + Bread Coming to The Commons at Calabasas

• Sonic Drive-In Plans a Fillmore Location

• Zinque Coming to the Westlake Commons in Westlake Village (UPDATE: Anticipated to open 12/23 or 12/24)

• Red O Taste of Mexico is Looking at Early 2025 Opening in Westlake Village

• Luau Grill Coming to North Ranch Shopping Center in Westlake Village

• Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream Coming to The Oaks Mall in Early 2025 (Handel’s is also coming to Oxnard.)

• House of Bamboo Tiki Lounge Coming to Old Town Camarillo

• Old Oaks Steakhouse in Thousand Oaks on the Cusp of Opening

• Szechuwan Garden Chinese Cuisine Coming to Newbury Park

• Chick-fil-A coming to the Camarillo Premium Outlets

• Makenna Koffee Coming to North Ranch Shopping Center in Westlake Village

• Texas Roadhouse to Open at Camarillo Premium Outlets in Mid-2025

• Hibye Coffee Coming to The Shoppes at Westlake Village

• Honey Cup Coffeehouse Opening Thousand Oaks Location Soon

• Gelato Boutique Coming Soon to the North Ranch Shopping Center

• Diablos Sushi Cantina Coming to Simi Valley

• Dunkin’ Donuts Coming to Newbury Park

• Salsa & Beer Calabasas has been anticipated for four years now

Closed in 2024

• 101 BBQ Hut Closed in Westlake Village and Now Located at Tavern 101

• Tavern Tomoko and Ladyface Brewery to Close on December 22

• Five Guys Burgers and Fries Thousand Oaks Closed in November

• All Fired Up Mongolian Grill Thousand Oaks Closed on November 27

• TGI Fridays Simi Valley Closed Its Doors on October 24

• Hummus Lali at The Shoppes at Westlake Village Closed in October

• Fatburger Thousand Oaks Closed in October

• Ma Dukes by L.A. Roots Artisan Pizzas in Agoura Hills Closed September 22

• Lamppost Pizza Westlake Village Closed in September

• Johnny Rockets at the Camarillo Premium Outlets Closed

• Social Monk Closed - to Become Neighborly Food Hall

• Black Bear Diner Simi Valley Closed on August 7

• Pho & Tea at The Oaks Mall Closed in July

• MOD Pizza Newbury Park Closed in May

• Modern Kitchen at The Shoppes at Westlake Village Closed in April

• Karma Baker in Oak Park Closed on March 30

• Cuckoo Rooster Agoura Hills Closed in February

• Mama’s Hummus Newbury Park Closed on February 28

• Amy’s Drive Thru Thousand Oaks Closed in February

• JOiBIRDS Cafe in Thousand Oaks Closed October 6

• Mediterranean Santour Kabobery Simi Valley

• Michael’s Pizza in Agoura Hills

• Barone’s Pizza in Thousand Oaks Closed on May 28

• Ben & Jerry’s Ventura

• Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt Thousand Oaks

• The Raven Tavern in Oxnard Closed in November

The Saticoy Southern Pacific Railroad Depot is on the National Register of Historic Places

Saticoy Southern Pacific Railroad Depot seen from Alelia Ave

The Saticoy Southern Pacific Railroad Depot is located in the unincorporated community of Saticoy at 11220 Azahar Street.

The depot, built in 1887, was designated Ventura County Historic Landmark no. 176 in May 2016. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.

The depot was built by the Southern Pacific Railroad along the line that was being constructed from Los Angeles to Ventura in 1887. The original town of Saticoy was laid out near the new depot. Its name comes from the Chumash village of Sa’aqtik’oy. 

The Saticoy Depot served rail that traveled through the Santa Clara Valley between Saugus to Ventura County. It was one of 14 Southern Pacific Railroad Depots in Ventura County - the others were Oxnard, Santa Susana, Santa Paula, Fillmore, Piru, Ojai, Camarillo, Moorpark, Sespe, Camulos, Somis, Montalvo and downtown Ventura. Only six of these remain today.

Saticoy Depot in 1956 (Museum of Ventura County)

Scene From The Oaks Mall at Christmastime in December 1982

Here’s a scene from The Oaks shopping mall, courtesy of the Thousand Oaks Library’s Conejo Through the Lens collection, from December 1982.

The view is from the upper level of the east end of the mall. Looking west on the right you can see House of Fabrics and Hot Dog on a Stick and below, Wallpapers to Go.

And below is a more current view of The Oaks, albeit from a different vantage point in the mall.

The Macerich Company, which owns 47 million square feet of real estate consisting primarily of interests in 44 regional town centers. announced in its 3rd quarter financial report last month "We are under contract to sell The Oaks for $157 million, and expect to close** during the fourth quarter of 2024, subject to customary closing conditions." Real estate news site "The Real Deal" indicates the buyer is Stockdale Capital Partners. So perhaps we'll see some changes in the future. Macerich has owned the mall since 2002. The mall originally opened in 1978.

Ventura County Area Listings in the National Register of Historic Places

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation's historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate and protect America's historic and archaeological resources.

There are over 80,000 listings in the National Register in five general categories: building, structure, site, district and object.

To be considered eligible for the Register, a property must meet the National Register Criteria for Evaluation. This involves examining the property’s age (generally at least 50 years old), integrity and significance.

To learn more about the National Register of Historic Places and to search its database, visit www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/index.htm.

Now let's highlight Ventura County area properties listed in the Register as of November 2024. Most of these you can visit (links provided where applicable):

• Anacapa Island Archeological District (listed 9/12/1979)

• Anacapa Island Light Station (9/3/1991)

• Elizabeth Bard Memorial Hospital, 121 N. Fir St, Ventura (11/11/1977)

• Bardsdale Methodist Episcopal Church, 1418 Bardsdale Ave, Fillmore (8/28/1986)

• Berylwood (Estate of Thomas R. Bard family owned by U.S. Navy and located at U.S. Naval Station Battalion Center in Port Hueneme) (9/15/1977)

• Burro Flats Painted Cave, Bell Canyon (address restricted) (5/5/1976)

• Calleguas Creek Site, Oxnard (address restricted) (5/19/1976)

• Camarillo Ranch House (2/20/2003)

• Case Study House No. 28, 91 Inverness Road, Thousand Oaks (Case Study Houses were experiments in American residential architecture from 1945 to 1966). (7/24/2013)

• Colony House, 137 Strathearn Place, Simi Valley (9/18/1978)

• Dudley House, 4085 Telegraph Road, Ventura (5/17/1977)

• Ebell Club of Santa Paula, 125 S. Seventh St (7/20/1989)

• George Washington Faulkner House, 14292 W. Telegraph Road, Santa Paula (4/25/1991)

• Feraud General Merchandise Store, 2 and 12 W. Main St, Ventura (1/23/1986)

• First Baptist Church of Ventura, 101 S. Laurel St (7/3/2009)

• Emmanuel Franz House, 31 N. Oak St, Ventura (6/25/1982)

• Glen Tavern Hotel, 134 N. Mill St, Santa Paula (7/26/1984)

• Thomas Gould, Jr. House, 402 Lynn Drive, Ventura (12/23/2005)

• Grand Union Hotel (now Stagecoach Inn Museum), 51 Ventu Park Road, Newbury Park (12/30/1975)

• Grandma Prisbrey's Bottle Village, 4595 Cochran St, Simi Valley (10/25/1996)

• Joel McCrea Ranch, 4500 N. Moorpark Rd, Thousand Oaks (4/18/1997)

• Mission San Buenaventura, 211 E. Main St, Ventura (4/10/1975)

• Olivas Adobe in Ventura (7/24/1979)

• Carnegie Art Museum (formerly Oxnard Public Library), 424 S. C Street (7/27/1971)

• Henry T. Oxnard Historic District, F & G Streets, between Palm & 5th (2/5/1999)

• Charles M. Pratt House, 1330 Foothill Road, Ojai (6/14/2002)

• Rancho Camulos, 5164 E. Telegraph Road, Piru (11/1/1996)

• San Buenaventura Mission Aqueduct, 234 Canada Larga Rd., Ventura (3/7/1975)

• San Miguel Chapel Site (address restricted), Ventura (7/20/1978)

• Santa Paula Hardware Company Block--Union Oil Company (now California Oil Museum) 1003 E. Main St. (8/14/1986)

• Saticoy Southern Pacific Railroad Depot, 11220 Azahar Street, Saticoy (7/23/2018)

• Simi Adobe-Strathearn House,137 Strathearn Place, Simi Valley (5/19/1978)

• SS Winfield Scott (Steamship shipwreck at Anacapa Island) (9/12/1988)

• St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel (now Ojai Valley Museum), 130 W. Ojai Ave, Ojai (6/29/1995)

• Thacher School Historic District, 5025 Thacher Road, Ojai Valley (4/4/2019)

• Ventura County Courthouse (now Ventura City Hall), 501 Poli St, Ventura (8/19/1971)

• Ventura Theater, 26 S. Chestnut, Ventura (12/29/1986)

• Women's Improvement Club of Hueneme, 239 E. Scott St (8/21/1989)

Other nearby historic places:

• Adamson House, 23200 W. Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu (10/28/1977)

• Humaliwo (address restricted) (9/1/1976)

• Saddle Rock Ranch Pictograph Site (address restricted) (2/12/1982)

• Stevens House, 23524 Malibu Colony Road, Malibu (10/9/2009)

• Leonis Adobe, 23537 Calabasas Road, Calabasas (5/29/1975)

The "Scary Dairy" at CSU Channel Islands University Park in Camarillo

CSU Channel Islands University Park is a 367 acre parcel located adjacent to CSU Channel Islands off of S. Lewis Road in Camarillo. It is a regional educational and recreation area owned and operated by California State University Channel Islands.

In 1932, the State of California purchased 1,760 acres of the Lewis Ranch and built the Camarillo State Mental Hospital, which operated from 1936 to 1997 and at one point treated as many as 7,000 patients in the mid 1950s.

Located on the parcel was a dairy farm that produced crops and housed livestock that fed the hospital community. The farm was disbanded in the 1960s and has been left in a state of disrepair, falling prey over the decades to vandals and coined "Scary Dairy."

After closure of the hospital, the land was conveyed to the County of Ventura, which had considered developing a golf course and amphitheater there but later abandoned its plans. The land was acquired by the University in 2009.

Fences and "No Trespassing" signs now surround what's left of the structures. but you can still get pretty close to check out Scary Dairy.

CSU Channel Islands University Park is open to the public daily from sunrise to sunset. From Camarillo, take Lewis Road south to Camarillo Street and turn left (east).  Cross the bridge over Calleguas Creek and the entrance is on the left. Parking is $6 per vehicle (as of 2022). Do note that there are no facilities at this park, like restrooms and drinking fountains.

Visit www.csuci.edu/cipark for more information.

Places Where Kids Can Eat Free in Ventura County

Here's a list of restaurants that have "Kids Eat Free" deals around Ventura County! These deals are subject to change at a moment's notice, so make sure to call the restaurants in advance.

 Let us know of any changes or additions! Now let's go EAT!!

Ventura County area daily deals and online coupon websites

Restaurant rewards programs at 100+ Ventura County eateries

Fire Island Grill at 1230 Madera Road, Simi Valley offers a Kids Eat Free deal on Saturdays/Sundays. Get a free kids chicken bowl or mac and cheese with the purchase of an adult entrée. Kids must be under 8 and present.

Red's Barbecue at 3090 Cochran St, Ste A1 in Simi Valley is offering Kids Eat Free every Thursday from 11am to close. Get up to 2 free kids' menu meals for every adult meal ordered. Dine in only. Ages 11 and under only.

The Kebab Shop at 3980 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd in Westlake Village offers a Kids Eat Free deal every Saturday and Sunday. One free kids box for every wrap, box, plate and fountain drink purchased at regular price. In-store only. thekebabshop.com/locations/ca/los-angeles/thousand-oaks

Denny's offers Kids Eat Free for 10 and under from 4 pm to 10 pm on designated nights. Up to 2 free kids meals for each paid adult entrée. Call location to confirm.

• Newbury Park 2830 Camino Dos Rios (805.498.4440) Tues/Sat

• Camarillo 1659 E. Daily Drive (805.484.4137) Tues/Sat

• Moorpark 832 New Los Angeles Ave. (805.530.0999) Tues/Sat

• Ventura 2148 Harbor Blvd (805.643.3414) Tues/Sat

• Oxnard 1255 N Oxnard Blvd (805.604.9455) Tues

Baja Fresh at 30861 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd in Westlake Village has a kids eat free deal on Sundays. www.bajafresh.com/stores/mexican-food-westlake-village/30664 (818) 900-1846

Chuy’s Baja Grill at 1397 E. Los Angeles Avenue in Simi Valley offers Kids Eat Free on Mondays with the purchase of any adult meal. www.instagram.com/p/DDYK4f3SUQw/

Huarache Xpress at the east end of the Simi Valley Town Center offers a kids eat free deal every Wednesday for kids up to age 16 with each paid adult meal, limited to two free meals. www.huarachexpresstogo.com. (805) 422-8858 (Updated as of 4/10/24)

Loru’s Cafe in the Camarillo Premium Outlets at 630 Ventura Blvd, Ste 1217 has a Kids Eat Free deal Monday to Saturday from 3pm to close. One kids entree with the purchase of an adult entree. Drink not included. loruscafe.com

Tell Me About the History of the Street Names in Casa Conejo in Newbury Park

Casa Conejo is an unincorporated Ventura County community of about 1,000 homes located in Newbury Park. Casa Conejo is a rectangular shaped island within Thousand Oaks city limits, but is not part of the city. Although Casa Conejo is considered part of Newbury Park, it is not part of the majority of Newbury Park within the boundaries of the City of Thousand Oaks.

Premiering in 1960, Casa Conejo was the first planned community in Newbury Park. Several folks have asked about the origin of the street names in Casa Conejo. Here goes (with the help of a relative of the original developers):

Louis Lesser Enterprises developed Casa Conejo. Members of the Lesser and Malat families created the street names; hence Lesser and Malat Drives, Rudman Drive came from Louis Rudman, also related through marriage to the Lessers, and who managed home sales.

William Malat (William Drive) had twin sons, Melvin (Melvin Ct) and Gerald (Gerald Drive). William's wife was Ethel (Ethel Ct). Louis Lesser's wife was Jeanne (Jeanne Ct). Louis Lesser's brother, Alvin "Sonny" was married to Martha (Martha Dr). Louis Rudman's wife was Shirley (Shirley Dr), who was also Ethel’s sister. One of Sonny's daughters is Dena (Dena Dr).

Ben (Ben Ct) and Lily (Lily Ct) were Louis and Alvin Lesser's parents. Michael (Michael Drive) is a cousin (by marriage) of the Lessers and Malats. Cathy (Cathy Dr) and Francine (Frankie Dr) were two of Louis and Jeanne’s four children. Lisa Rudman (Lisa Ct) is related to the Rudmans (I suspect their daughter).

The jackpot winner was WENDY, who has by far the longest street, not to mention a freeway on/offramp and overpass, named after her! Wendy, who lives in AZ, is a granddaughter of William Malat and daughter of Melvyn. Before it became Wendy Drive in mid-1961, it was called Avenida de la Felicidad.

There are a couple dozen other streets in Casa Conejo that I don’t have the source for at this time, but perhaps I’ll do some more digging:

North/South Streets: Jenny Drive, Gerst Drive, Ruth Drive, Lois Ave, Dorena Drive, Kitty St, Bella Dr, Randy Dr, Debbie St, Cay Ct, Henry Dr, Devia Dr, Virginia Dr, Nellie Ct, Bob Ct, Elinor Ct.

East/West Streets: Gloria Dr, Carl Ct, Alice Dr, Lynn Ct, Lois Ct, Verna Ave.