Burger Express Announces it Will Re-Open Near Moorpark College

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Update: The new restaurant in Moorpark opened June 18th and is called Olympic Grill.

Posted March 28th: In a Facebook posting yesterday, March 27th, the owners of Burger Express announced that they will be re-opening in the shopping center across the street from Moorpark College in about three to four weeks.

Good for them! Always great to hear about a local business that closes but later re-opens!

On October 30, 2012, Burger Express closed its Newbury Park location that had operated for nearly 15 years. Owners indicated that they had searched several months for another location in Newbury Park but were not able to find one that was suitable, thus expanding its search to Moorpark.

The owners also indicated "We do hope to return to Newbury Park one day if the right opportunity arises, whether it be by relocating or expanding our business. In the meantime, we hope that many of you will follow us to our new location."

Stay tuned for the opening date.

If you're reading this post, you're probably a burger fan. Check out THIS POST for plenty more burger discussion to chew on.

Sidecar Restaurant in Ventura to Close Its Doors After 10 Years on Tuesday, May 14th

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Acclaimed Ventura Restaurant is Going Out With A Roar During Its Final Months Of Business March-May 14, 2013

Sidecar Restaurant is honoring its departure with a new lunch and dinner menu, Easter and Mother’s Day brunch reservations

The 1910 Pullman railway car that houses Sidecar Restaurant is blowing its whistle to announce its closing due to the end of their ten-year lease.  “Although the circumstances are less than ideal; we did our best to renegotiate our lease,” says Executive Chef and Owner, Tim Kilcoyne. “However, we are not disheartened and instead, we are commemorating Sidecar’s decade of success with two new menus, as well as Easter and Mother’s Day Brunch.”   The Sidecar will close its doors after the popular, and final, Grilled Cheese & Jazz Night, on Tuesday, May 14th.

New Lunch Menu (Tuesday-Friday: 11:30a.m.-2p.m.)

True to Chef Tim’s simple, seasonal and fresh culinary style, while keeping local favorites in mind, midday menu offerings include: Fried Chicken Sandwich with Tabasco aioli, blue cheese slaw, and pickles; Sidecar Burger and Fries with California grass fed beef, lettuce, pepper marmalade, burger sauce, on a brioche bun; Fish Tacos with cabbage, avocado crema, cotija cheese and lime; or Olive Oil Poached Salmon Nicoise with anchovy, potato, red onion, beets, capers, olives, egg, and a red wine vinaigrette. 

New Dinner Menu (Wednesday-Sunday: 5p.m. - Close)

If you have a preference for gourmet pastoral fare, you will enjoy the market-driven and favorites-inspired dinner menu.  Featuring mouthwa

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New Janss Marketplace Mascot "Scooter" to Make Debut on Saturday, March 30th

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“Scooter” Costume Character at Janss Marketplace Saturday Kids Event

 Justin Bieber Concert Tickets Prize Registration

Scooter, the lovable new skateboarding costume character mascot of Janss Marketplace’s Kid Fun Zone program, makes his very FIRST public appearance on from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 30 near Toys R Us at the shopping center, located at 215 N. Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks.   Bring your cameras to take pictures with Scooter at the event.

Visit the Kids Fun Zone Craft activity booth during this Saturday’s event where children 12 and under can decorate FREE Easter-themed canvas sacks, perfect for egg-hunting ,and join Scooter at the spin-to-win wheel for the chance to win prizes from Lucky’s Dog House, Cold Stone Creamery and Regency Theatres.

Kids Fun Zone members can participate in the Easter craft activity and prize spin activity.  All children ages 12 and younger can join the FREE Kids Fun Zone program to participate in activities and events held on the last Saturday of each month at Janss Marketplace.  Membership benefits also include birthday treats and exclusive discounts at participating Janss Marketplace stores. Visit www.JanssMarketplace.net for more information.

Justin Bieber Tickets

Janss MarketPlace is proud to support California Lutheran University’s student fundraiser for the Special Olympics Ventura County.   From noon to 1 p.m. on Saturday, attendees at the Janss Marketplace Kids Fun Zone event can make a donation to the Special Olympics Ventura County for the chance to win VIP tickets for the Justin Bieber June 24 concert at the Staples Center.   On June 4 California Lutheran University will conduct a random drawing to select two winners to each receive a pair of VIP box seat tickets to the concert.  The college students in Jean Kelso Sandlin’s Advanced Public Relations class developed the fundraiser as part of a service-learning project this semester.

Janss Marketplace is professionally managed by NewMark Merrill Companies, LLC, which is owned by President and Chief Executive Officer, Sandy Sigal.  Since 1984 he has led NewMark Merrill in a community leadership role at the company’s shopping centers in more than 45 cities. For more information about Janss Marketplace events, visit www.janssmarketplace.net or become a fan on Facebook.

Ventura County Deputies Seek Public's Help to Identify Suspect Who Robbed Newbury Park Smart & Final Store on March 19th

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A man armed with a handgun robbed the Smart & Final store located at 2222 West Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks at approximately 8:40PM on March 19, 2013. The suspect approached the cashier clerk, displayed a handgun, and demanded money from the cash register. After getting an undisclosed amount of cash, the suspect ran through the parking lot and was last seen leaving the scene in a 1990’s white sedan.


Witnesses described the suspect as a Hispanic male about 35 years old, approximately 5’-11”, weighing approximately 275 lbs, and clean shaven. He was wearing a white or light colored baseball cap, a light colored long sleeve button down shirt, baggy blue jeans, and white tennis shoes.


Anyone with information about the robbery or the suspect is asked to contact Det Mike Ferguson with the East County Major Crimes Unit at (805) 494-8222/ e-mail mike.ferguson@ventura.org.

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Ventura County Star Reports Conejo Valley's First Drive-Thru Starbucks Approved

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Update 3/21/13: The Thousand Oaks Drive-Thru Starbucks on Thousand Oaks Boulevard at Rancho Road opened today at 1:30pm! Woo hoo! Their phone number is 805.379.1750.

Update 1/13/13: The new Thousand Oaks Drive-Thru Starbucks at the corner of Thousand Oaks Blvd and Rancho Road is coming right along. The structure is built and they continue working away on it. The photo below doesn't quite do it justice but hey, I was multitasking while maneuvering a left hand turn onto T.O. Blvd. :> No word on specific opening date but certainly looks like it

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County of Ventura Food Facility Closures January Through Mid-March 2013

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The County of Ventura Environmental Health Division protect public health and the environment by ensuring conformance with State laws and County ordinances pertaining to food protection, hazardous materials, hazardous waste, individual sewage disposal systems, land use, medical waste, ocean water quality monitoring, recreational health, solid waste, underground fuel tanks and vector control.

The EHD publishes food facility closures at www.ventura.org/rma/envhealth/community-services/consumer-food/closures.html.

The following closures were noted for the period January 1, 2013 through March 15, 2013. Keep in mind when reviewing this that there are many possible reasons for the closures, most of which are very temporary issues.

MARCH 2013

Ameci Pizza & Pasta, 1941 N. Rose Ave. #660, Oxnard;
Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions;
Date closed - 03/14/13; Date reopened - 03/15/13

7-Eleven, 2099 E. Harbor Blvd., Ventura;
No water for hand washing, utensil & equipment cleaning, & employee toilets due to water main break;
Date closed - 03/13/13; Date reopened - 03/14/13

Los Tacos Locos, 1854 Cochran Street, Simi Valley;
No hot water for utensil and equipment cleaning or hand washing;
Date closed - 03/13/13; Date reopened - 03/13/13

Adar Chevron, 983 E. Harvard Blvd., Santa Paula;
No hot water for utensil and equipment cleanin

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STACKED: Food Well Built to Open 4th Location at The Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks!

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Update 3/14/13: STACKED has indicated it will be opening on Wednesday, March 20th! They open at 11am, seven days a week. Their phone is 805.494.2530. stacked.com

Update 1/29/13: STACKED: Food Well Built has indicated they are targeting a mid-March 2013 grand opening date. They are currently hiring for the Thousand Oaks location. stacked.com/#locations

Originally Posted 9/19/12: According to this press release on RestaurantNews.com, The Oaks Mall will soon have a replacement for the Buddha's Belly that closed its doors on September 8th.

Founded in mid-2011, STACKED: Food Well Built will soon be neighbors with popular The Cheesecake Factory at The Oaks. STACKED has 3 current locations at the Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance, Fashion Valley Mall in San Diego and the Los Cerritos Center in Cerritos.

The STACKED menu features popular food like burgers, pizzas, salads, and mac ‘n’ cheese. Guests can choose from signature dishes or build their own meals selecting from dozens of proteins, toppings, dips and sauces, using proprietary tableside iPad technology (or they can order from attentive servers). Also on the menu are appetizers, shakes and desserts.

Sounds like a fun concept! Ordering via iPad!

This make your own concept seems to be growing in popularity. Reminds me of one of my family's favorite local eateries; The Counter in Westlake Village.

For more information about STACKED or employment opportunities, visit stacked.com or facebook.com/stackedrestaurants.

Santa Paula Agriculture Museum Sugar Beet Exhibits March 30 to August 11

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Agriculture Museum Hosts Sugar Beet Exhibits

Cultivating Oxnard Sugar Beets; Museum of Ventura County Research Library Collection The Museum of Ventura County’s Agriculture Museum will be showcasing a new exhibit, From Field to Factory, Oxnard’s Beet Generation, from March 30 to August 11, 2013. The exhibit will include never-before-exhibited photographs of the American Beet Sugar Factory in Oxnard, which was the world’s second largest beet sugar producer upon completion in 1898, and tales of the boom town that sprang up practically overnight around the factory. The photographs illustrate the rise of one of Ventura County’s most important historical crops: Sugar beets. A beet wagon fully-restored by Santa Paula resident, Richard Cummings, will be on display. Artifacts from the factory, as well as tools from of the beet trade, will also be on display.

Visitors are invited to attend the opening reception on Saturday, April 6, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m, which will celebrate two exhibits, From Field to Factory and Farm Fresh Quilts. Event will include sweet treats, no-host bar, and beet-related contests. Admission to the reception is $5.00 for the general public and free for museum members. RSVP to 805-525-3100.

Along with the opening reception, the Agriculture Museum will host several events focused on the sugar beet industry. On Sunday, April 14, at 2:00 p.m., CSU Channel Islands Professor of History, Frank P. Barajas, Ph.D., will present Oxnard Labor History. Barajas is the author of Curious Unions: Mexican American Workers and Resistance in Oxnard, California, 1898-1961. Admission to Barajas’ lecture is $5.00 for the general public and free for museum members, and includes entrance to all Museum exhibits. RSVP to 805-525-3100.

The Museum of Ventura County’s Agriculture Museum is located in historic downtown Santa Paula at 926 Railroad Avenue. Hours are 10 a.m.– 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. General admission is $4 adults, $3 seniors, $1 children ages 6-17. Free for Museum of Ventura County members and children ages 5 and younger. Paid events include free admission to the galleries, and the first Sunday of every month is free general admission to the public. For more information, go to www.venturamuseum.org or call (805) 525-3100.