Social Monk Westlake Village Has Closed, But Will Reopen As Neighborly Curated Food Hall This Fall

Social Monk at The Promenade at Westlake has closed, but will reopen this Fall as Neighborly Curated Food Hall. Neighborly was created by the founders of brands like Mendocino Farms and goop Kitchen, and will be a collection of chef-driven offerings from concepts specifically reimagined for Neighborly, like Joan’s On Third, Mini Kabob, Social Monk, The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills, and others - all out of a single kitchen - for dine in, take out, and delivery.

So while Social Monk fans may be disappointed with the closing, they can look forward to ordering Social Monk dishes at the new eatery. Social Monk is a casual eatery concept created by The Cheesecake Factory that opened in February 2018.

Visit www.socialmonk.com to sign up for updates.

The Waffle Experience Newbury Park to Rebrand as Honey & Herb Belgian Waffle House on Friday, December 22nd

Image from honey & herb INstagram page.

The Waffle Experience in the Conejo Gateway Plaza at 765 Wendy Drive in Newbury Park has announced that it will be re-branding as the Honey & Herb Belgian Waffle House @honeyandherbwaffles on Instagram on Friday, December 22nd. There will be a launch event on Friday, December 22nd from 4-7pm - see bit.ly/HandHEvent or visit their IG page for the link. I'm told the menu will be similar. They are still open in the meantime. This popular eatery originally has garnered a Yelp rating of 4.4 - one of the highest in the Conejo Valley - since opening in June 2021. Their new website is honey-and-herb.com.

Same ownership and staff. Similar menu….with the additional of “regular” Belgian waffles to the menu as well.

Vegan Thyme Plant-Based Restaurant in Newbury Park Relocates to Larger Location in Same Plaza

Vegan Thyme Plant-Based Restaurant has successfully relocated from its original location next to Azar’s to the much larger spot across the parking lot, near Michael’s Bicycles.

March 2023 marks the 4th anniversary of Vegan Thyme, which serves exclusively vegan - dairy and meat-free - noodles, soy-based chicken, beef, fish and shrimp, vegetables and more. If you’re not vegan, give it a chance. Chances are, you’ll like their flavorful, healthful food. They also offer boba drinks - Thai Iced Tea, Thai Iced Coffee, Taro, Green Tea, Mango and Strawberry. Learn more at veganthymecafe.com.

Former occupant of this space at 2247 Michael Drive, Newbury Park, Roma Deli, closed its doors in November 2020 after 30 years in business in the Conejo Valley.

Progress Slow But Steady at the Former Corrigan's Steak House in Thousand Oaks

UPDATE 4/16/24: Signs are up at the remodeled building - “Old Oaks Steakhouse.” No specific timing at this point, but stay tuned.

Corrigan’s Steakhouse was originally opened in 1982 by Tom Corrigan, the son of legendary stuntman/actor Ray “Crash” Corrigan. Crash Corrigan passed away on August 10, 1976. Tom Corrigan passed away on March 14, 2018.

Corrigan’s Steakhouse, located at 556 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, closed its doors later that year in 2018 and it changed ownership. Since then, over the last four years, there has been slow, and more recently very steady, progress in the remodeling of the site.

Rumor has it that the new place will also be a steakhouse, with a cigar room in the back. “Old Oaks Steakhouse” is one name that has mentioned as a possibility. We shall see.

Corrigan’s Steak House did not originate at this location. Its roots were in the Park Oaks Shopping Center at Janss and Moorpark Roads in Thousand Oaks. It relocated to Thousand Oaks Blvd at Long Ct in 1990. This location has a bit of history in it, so it is good to see, as you can tell in the photos below, that some of that history has been retained.

House of Orlando Italian Restaurant operated here from 1960 to 1977. It subsequently became Le Normandie French Restaurant for awhile. Then in 1990 it became Corrigan’s.

Here is a view of Hosue of Orlando Italian Restaurant at 556 East Thousand Oaks Blvd during the 1966 Conejo Valley Days parade. (Photo from the Thousand Oaks Library Conejo Through the Lens Collection.)

Corrigan’s Steak House in 2018, before it closed.

A view from the side - Corrigan’s Steak House - Seafood, Burgers & Chili

A view of the inside of Corrigan’s after it closed.

Side view while undergoing reconstruction in October 2021

Progress continuing in December 2021

April 2022

Christmas Eve 2022

Sunset Terrace Restaurant & Lounge in Thousand Oaks Looks to Open Four Lane Bowling Alley

Snippet of architectural plans for the planned 4-lane addition to Sunset Terrace.

The last time a bowling alley operated in Thousand Oaks was 1995, when the 40 lane Conejo Village Bowl closed its doors. There has been talk of other alleys from time to time, but nothing has transpired.

Sunset Terrace Restaurant & Lounge at Janss Marketplace may change that, as they are in process of building a four-lane bowling alley in the 4,200 sq ft adjacent space previously occupied by Edible Arrangements and a karate studio. Let’s see if they can make this happen…stay tuned.

In other local area bowling news, as mentioned in August, Bowlero is looking to develop an alley in the former Dick's Sporting Goods in Moorpark - subject to city council approval.

For existing local area bowling alleys, visit THIS PAGE.

Learn more about Sunset Terrace at sunsetterracerestaurant.com. They offer California cuisine, a large bar with 40 seat capacity, pool tables, shuffleboard, darts, dance floor, plenty of TV with live sports and more. Daily food and drink specials include Mat Tai Mondays, Taco Tuesdays, Waffle & Wing Wednesdays, Sushi Thursdays, NFL Game Specials and more at sunsetterracerestaurant.com/daily-specials.

The space where the alley is being planned for.

Vegan Thyme Plant Based Restaurant to Expand Into Larger Location in 2023 in Newbury Park

Vegan Thyme, the popular vegan/vegetarian eatery in the Park Plaza Shopping Center at 2205 Michael Drive in Newbury Park that opened in March 2019, will be moving to a larger location in the center - the former Roma Deli, sometime in 2023. Congratulations to Vegan Thyme for their continued success!

veganthymecafe.com

Thousand Oaks BPO Elks BBQ Open Saturdays From 10am to 2pm Every Week

elks lodge bbq.jpg

Come join the Thousand Oaks Elks every Saturday from 10AM to 2PM (or until sold out) and enjoy BBQ'd meats over an oak fired grill.

The Thousand Oaks BPO Elks Lodge BBQ Wagon is a 100% volunteer organization. Established in the late 1980s, it has been a mainstay in the community since that time. Its reputation for mouth-watering BBQ’d tri-tip, chicken and pork ribs has traveled internationally.

Over the years this charitable organization has been serving children with disabilities by providing Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech-Language Therapy, Preschool Vision Screening, Scholarship Grants, Hospital Grants, Support for our Veterans, Americanism and more.

Visit us at our local lodge at 158 Conejo School Road, Thousand Oaks.

Learn more at 2477elks.com/elks-bbq-wagon.

elks lodge bbq (3.jpg