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.
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Hunan Restaurant in Westlake Village at 3825 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd (North Ranch Shopping Center, next to Rite Aid) closed its doors a couple months ago after 30 years in business (retirement).
Other local eateries that closed or opened (or both) in 2021 and that we anticipate to open in 2022 at THIS LINK.
Which Wich is no longer in operation at The Shoppes at Westlake after a six year run. They opened their doors on September 12, 2015.
If you were a Which Wich fan, you’ll have to drive to Hollywood and Western in Los Angeles for your nearest Which Wich.
All this brings back a childhood memory. I recall a book called “Which Witch is Which?”
Remnants of Mimi’s Cafe Thousand Oaks. (Photo Credit: Eric K. via Instagram)
Mimi’s Cafe on Moorpark Road at Brazil Street in Thousand Oaks said its final goodbyes today, as it was demolished to make room for the construction of Amy’s Drive-Thru.
This location and the Ventura location were closed back in February of this year.
The Thousand Oaks location had operated since at least 1998, giving it a lifespan of at least 23 years. That’s not a bad run for a restaurant operating in this day and age.
Mimi’s was co-founded by Arthur J. Simms, who flew spy missions for the U.S. Air Force out of London and into occupied France. Arthur was with Allied troops liberating a small French town near Versailles. The town celebrated and he me a beautiful French girl named Mimi. They fell in love, but the war pulled them apart.
Thirty years later, Arthur and his son Tom decided to develop a new restaurant, and the named it for Mimi. The Simms and two partners opened the first Mimi’s Cafe in Anaheim in 1978.
Today Mimi’s operates 48 locations in 12 states and the closest ones to Ventura County are in Chatsworth and Valencia.
Mimi’s had intentions to go public in 2004 but instead opted to be acquired for $103 million in cash and assumption of $79 million in debt by Bob Evans Farms Inc. At that time, there were 81 locations in 10 states, including 47 in California.
Le Duff America Inc., a Dallas-based subsidiary of French based Groupe Le Duff, purchased the Mimi’s chain from Bob Evans Farms in early 2013 for $50 million. It would appear that Bob Evans did not make a great investment. Mimi’s had grown to 145 locations in 24 states at the time. Perhaps they grew too fast.
In mid-2019, Le Duff decided to re-brand Mimi’s Cafe as Mimi’s Bistro & Bakery. The chain had shrunk back down to 77 locations by then. And today, as mentioned above, they are down to 48 locations.
The Le Duff America website mentions the purchase of Mimi’s Cafe in 2013 but otherwise, there is no mention of Mimi’s even in the listing of their brands. The trend does not appear to a friend to Mimi’s Bistro & Bakery but let’s hope for the best.
Mimi’s the night of the day it closed.
UPDATE: Phil’s Restaurant opened in March 2022. Learn more at www.phils1000oaks.com.
Prawn & Basil at 3316 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd (just west of Duesenberg Drive) very recently closed its doors**, but the next eatery slated for this spot, "Phil's," is coming soon. No info yet on the offerings but you can follow them at www.facebook.com/Phils-102443092236989. My suspicion is that craft cocktails will be in the mix.
Prior to Prawn & Basil, which opened here in August 2017, this spot was occupied by Geppino's Sicilian Kitchen and before that, Vitello's.
** I’m told by several folks that they will be relocating to the former Barone’s Westlake Village space across the parking lot from Lure Fish House and will operate under a different name. Stay tuned for more details.
The new drive-thru Starbucks at 925 South Westlake Boulevard is now open. Cisco's was the previous occupant of this address, before closing in February 2018. Also new here are the NU Med Spa and First Bank.
In a trend we’ve been seeing since 2013, this drive-thru Starbucks opened and a nearby Starbucks that was not a drive-thru closed. In this case, the long-time store between Sharky’s and Yogurtland at the southwest corner of Thousand Oaks and Westlake Boulevards closed.
The Starbucks at The Village at Newbury Park relocated across the parking lot to a new drive-thru location in January 2013.
The drive-thru Starbucks at the corner of Thousand Oaks Blvd and Rancho Road opened in March 2013. This was a new Starbucks, not a “replacement” Starbucks.
The drive-thru Starbucks at Janss Marketplace (where Hooters formerly resided) opened in January 2021, replacing the long-time Starbucks a block away.
The drive-thru Starbucks at the southwest corner of Thousand Oaks Blvd and Auto Mall drive opened in February 2018.
It’s always fun and a bit predictable what the response will be when we post update about a new Starbucks opening. About 50% of the comments are anti-Starbucks and the other half are either half are happy about it or ambivalent. One thing’s for sure, Starbucks never seems lacking for customers.
UPDATE 2/15/22: The Stand Westlake Village opened today.
We got the scoop from Shannon A today that The Stand is “opening soon” at what used to be Pitfire Artisan Pizza at the Westlake Plaza, 980 South Westlake Boulevard in Westlake Village.
The Stand is a popular, growing chain of fast-casual eateries offering traditional American foods - burgers, sandwiches (they call them Standwiches), hot dogs and salads - with non-traditional flavor combinations.
This will be the first Ventura County location of The Stand, as the Westlake Plaza lies firmly in the section of Westlake Village that is part of Thousand Oaks in Ventura County (as opposed to the City of Westlake Village, which is part of Los Angeles County. (Yes, this is confusing, but EXPLAINED HERE.)
Learn more about The Stand at www.thestand.com.
Pitfire Pizza closed at the beginning of the pandemic. It opened its doors on August 2, 2015.
STACKED Thousand Oaks announced tonight that it will not be reopening after an 18 month closure. Torrance and Cerritos locations also closed permanently. Stacked San Diego will be reopening.
After 18 months, some still held out hope that STACKED at The Oaks mall would be back some day. We now have closure on the matter.
STACKED Thousand Oaks opened on March 20, 2013 across from the Cheesecake Factory at The Oaks. The previous occupant of that space was Buddha’s Belly for about 11 months, and before that, Sisley Italian Kitchen.
Bada Sushi was located at 105 Brazil Street in Thousand Oaks, a block east from Moorpark Road and across the road from Janss Marketplace. It closed its doors in mid-2015.
The building is still vacant and looking a bit run down as of October 2021, some six years later. This is a 4,889 square foot freestanding retail building with 45 parking spaces on a .68 acre lot. What’s next? We shall see.
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