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.
Post other items directly to the Community Announcements section of the site.
Update 9/12/17: Flatiron Bagel Co. is now open for business.
Flatiron Bagel Co. will be opening soon at 1817 Thousand Oaks Blvd in Thousand Oaks in the Big Oak Shopping Center. Bagels made from scratch in-house! Sweet bagels, bagel sandwiches (choices to include curried chicken, turkey and avocado, roast beef and muenster, albacore tuna melt and more), breakfast bagels (smoked salmon and others) and more.
Learn more at flatironbagelco.com.
The Excellence in the Arts Awards are designed to honor and celebrate persons and organizations that contribute to the vibrancy of the arts and culture and increase access to arts experiences in Thousand Oaks.
2017 Award Categories
The arts are defined as visual and performing arts, including but not limited to music, dance, theater, painting, sculpture, photography and traditional/folk art. For these specific awards, the arts do not include literary arts. All winners may be asked to participate in city events, either by serving as an Arts Ambassador or through performance or exhibition opportunities. Philanthropy, while important, is not considered to be a factor in the criteria for any award.
The award determination is based on the award criteria listed below and the category definitions detailed on the award nomination form. Nomination deadline is Friday, July 28th (extended - originally was the 20th) at 4pm. Learn more at www.toaks.org/departments/cultural-affairs/arts-awards.
Photo Credit: Shawn Berger of Bandits BBQ
A brand new "brick and mortar" Mister Softee is slated to open Thursday, July 13, at 2100 Ventura Boulevard (at the corner of Fir Street) in Old Town Camarillo. Located directly across the street from the Mongolian BBQ.
Mister Softee serves up cones, ice cream sundaes, soda floats, banana boats, shakes and more. You may have seen one of their ice cream trucks around town.
Visit their website at www.mistersofteesocal.com or follow their Facebook page for updates at www.facebook.com/mistersofteeCA.
Yesterday, July 4th, at 10:59am via its Facebook page, Jeannine's Gourmet Food Hall at The Shoppes at Westlake Village announced is is now closed and to visit their Santa Barbara locations. jeannines.com
Jeannine's originally opened on Sunday, October 12, 2014, so it didn't quite make it to the three year mark.
Additionally, the Oh! Matsuri Japanese Kitchen co-located at the same location announced that it is "temporarily" closed and is looking for a new location nearby.
Photo credit: J. Stewart
UPDATE: Carl's Jr. Westlake re-opened in late December 2017.
Photo credit Este K. via CVG Facebook Page
Recently it has come to my attention that the Westlake Village Carl's Jr. at 887 Westlake Boulevard has been fenced off. In fact six people contacted us via Facebook comments, posts and email. Folks want to know, is Carl's Jr. history or are they remodeling?
I received a call back from Carl's Jr. regional management today and learned that Carl's Jr. Westlake Village is not going anywhere. There are remodeling the location and adding a drive-thru that will be located on the south (adjacent to Cisco's) side of this local fast food mainstay. Projected time of completion and re-opening is three months. So...stay tuned.
If you are in need of a Carl's Jr. fix, the closest locations to Westlake Village are Agoura Hills, Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park.
UPDATE 2/11/18: 101 North Eatery & Bar is the name of the place that will be opening soon.
Sign indicated applicant, Barrocca, LLC, has filed for a transfer of liquor license.
There's a yellow Alcoholic Beverage Control sign up at the former Olio Pizzeria at The Shoppes at Westlake Village (Olio closed its doors on February 2, 2017). The sign indicates the applicant, Barrocca, LLC, has filed for a transfer of the license to sell alcoholic beverages at this location.
While I've been in contact with the chef that is a principal in the new business, the venture is in its early stages. More information to come at a later date.
Update 2020: Tara’s is now Bollywood Spice Indian Cuisine bollywoodspiceusa.com
Update 7/29/17: Well, that was quick! Tara's Himalayan Cuisine has been open now about a week, according to Jonathan Stewart of Jonathan Stewart of Jonathan Stewart Photography. His initial indications are...good food and good service!
Cafe Topanga Pasta & Pizza at 171 N. Reino Road in Newbury Park has closed its doors but a new eatery is coming soon. Tara's Himalayan Cuisine. Tara's will offer up authentic Nepalese, Tibetan and Indian cuisine.
Tara's has locations in Los Angeles (near Culver City) and Artesia. According to its website:
“Tara’s Himalayan Cuisine is about family, yours and ours. Serving authentic Nepalese and Tibetan cuisine, we invite you to experience a true taste of home.
We use mountain grown herbs and spices from Nepal and whenever possible, locally grown vegetables. Our yak is Colorado raised. All of our dishes use the finest ingredients, and are prepared with a light touch. Tara’s Himalayan Cuisine is the dream of Tara Gurung Black. Born in a tiny mountain village in Nepal, she started her training in Nepalese classical and cultural dance at age eight. This inspired Tara to theme the restaurant according to classical and cultural Nepalese tradition.
While performing one day in Los Angeles, she had an overwhelming desire to share her Nepali culture with the people of Los Angeles. That is how and why Tara’s Himalayan Cuisine came to be.”
Stay tuned for updates or check tarashimalayancuisine.com or check the Tara's Ventura County Branch Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/thcventura.
So long, Cafe Topanga, and best of luck in your future endeavors.
Update 7/4/17: Photo showing progress to date. Photo shows smoke in the air from a 50 acre fire on the north side of the 101 on the Conejo Grade near Camarillo Springs exit. Firefighters nailed it as usual, the smoke cleared, and fireworks went off without a hitch.
Progress being made on the 130 unit Sage Mountain Assisted Living facility adjacent to the 101 in Newbury Park.
Posted 10/20/16:
Grading has started at 3499 Grande Vista Drive in Thousand Oaks
What's that you see going on at the top of the Conejo Grade on the north side of the 101? Grading is underway for the 130 unit Sage Mountain Assisted Living facility. This facility will contain 98 assisted living units and 32 memory care units, including studios and 1 bedroom apartments.
See a conceptual mock-up of the facility from the eastbound 101 at THIS LINK.
Address of the project is 3499 Grande Vista Drive, Thousand Oaks.
The view down the Conejo Grade from this location.
Update 6/2/18: Well some great news! This Baja Fresh location has re-opened after extensive renovations were made.
The 2nd oldest Baja Fresh location in a chain that was once as many as 300 eateries has closed its doors effective 6/29/17. Located at 30861 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Westlake Village (at Lindero Canyon), this location originally opened in July 1991. The original Newbury Park location on Kimber Drive opened in 1990, then later moved to The Village at Newbury Park, where ultimately it closed its doors on January 10, 2012.
Jennifer W tipped us off on the CVG Facebook Page about this. The doors are locked, the inside is in a bit of disarray and the phone number is not in service. A phone call to the Thousand Oaks Baja Fresh on Moorpark Road confirmed that the Westlake Village location is closed.
All this said, this was a franchised location of Baja Fresh, so there is an outside possibility of someone else picking it up. We shall see what happens.
Baja Fresh is a local success story, culminating in its acquisition by Wendy's in 2002 for $275 million. The chain grew to roughly 300 locations. But then things went downhill. Wendy's sold the chain for just $31 million in 2006. Baja Fresh and its subsidiary since 2007, La Salsa, were sold again last September for $27 million.
There are two Baja Fresh locations in Dubai and one in Abu Dhabi. So next time you're in the United Arab Emirates, grab me a Baja Burrito. I've been a Baja Fresh fan all these years and wish the best for remaining locations in the area.
Conejo Valley Guide covers events, activities and things to do throughout Ventura County and surrounding areas.
