Cafe Provencal to Close Its Doors in Thousand Oaks on Sunday, March 4th

In an email to its customers today, the owner of Cafe Provencal announced he will be shutting the restaurant's doors this Sunday, March 4th. Cafe Provencal has served French cuisine in the Thousand Oaks area for 16 years. It is located in the Select Conejo Plaza next to The Lakes and Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. It is always sad to hear of a local business closing and we wish the best to owner Serge Bonnet in his future ventures. www.cafeprovencal.biz 805.496.7121

A snippet from the email:

Dear Friend and customers,

This is one of the most painful moments of my life, but as you know there is always sunshine after a storm and rain.....

This week is the last week!

The restaurant will be closing on Sunday March 4th for good.....

Despite all the faith and prayers, time has come to say bye bye...

***

 I invite you to come for lunch and dinner one last time.

I can always usea little bit more of your support to go through the final bills and also to make sure I get your email info if I don't already have it.

***

We will have a farewell "goodbye" nights on

Friday and Saturday after 9p.m.

Join us for drinks, laughter, music and desserts....

Johnny Rockets at The Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks is No More

It was only about a month ago I could have sworn I stopped by Johnny Rockets with the kids at The Oaks mall. I've rarely seen it crowded in there so I could always count on grabbing table there. But someone mentioned the location had been closed on the CVG Facebook wall today and, sure enough, it is as if it never existed. Phone number disconnected, not on the Johnny Rockets website, no mention on The Oaks website, nada. So we stopped by today and indeed...the place is boarded up.

The unspectacular view of where Johnny Rockets used to reside at The Oaks mall in Thousand Oaks.

Well, there's always the other local Johnny Rockets locations at the Camarillo Premium Outlets, Agoura Hills (near the movie theaters) and Calabasas Commons.

For those of you who react to this closure with a "Oh my! Yet ANOTHER restaurant closure in Thousand Oaks!!" - well keep in mind that there's plenty of new places that have opened or plan to open as you can see here in the Conejo Valley Guide "Local Buzz" blog. And there's been quite a pull towards the east end of The Oaks of late with all the new(er) restaurants...Lazy Dog Cafe, Red Robin, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, not to mention the Muvico Theater...which probably did not bode well for my JRs.

Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister Stores at Simi Valley Town Center to Close in March

Last month Abercrombie and Fitch contacted the Ventura County Board of Supervisors to announce they will be shuttering their stores at the Simi Valley Town Center by the end of March. Never good news to hear of local stores closing, but this is part of a wider plan announced by Abercrombie this past Wednesday that it plans to close 180 of its 1,014 U.S. stores over the next 3 years (following the closure of 71 stores in 2011). This will eliminate 117 jobs in Simi Valley, though hopefully new jobs will come when they find new tenants for these spaces. A&F generated $4.2 billion in 2011, with net income of about $128 million.

There are California laws that require employers with 75 or more employees to give at least 60 days' notice to employees and local officials when they plan to terminate 50 or more employees in a mass layoff.

Other notifications submitted to the Board of Supervisors last month included Zodiac Pool Systems, which is closing its Moorpark facility (125 impacted local jobs) and EDO Communications and Countermeasure Systems, which is closing its plant on Willow Lane in Thousand Oaks, thus impacting 147 jobs.

Let's hope to see a reversal of this trend.  In the meantime CLICK HERE for links to over 200 employers in Ventura County and surrounding areas.

N' Awlinz Bistro Opening in Newbury Park this Month!

UPDATE: N'Awlinz Bistro, which originally opened it doors in Newbury Park in February 2012, announced it closed its doors on 12/21/13 to focus on its new location in Oxnard.

Now this sounds good! A bN'Awlinz Bistro, which originally opened it doors in Newbury Park in February 2012, announced it closed its doors on 12/21/13 to focus on its new location in Oxnard.rand new restaurant is in the works at the Wendy Kimber Plaza in Newbury Park. N' Awlinz Bistro will serve contemporary New Orleans French-Creole style cooking created by chef and owner, Marcus Webster. 

Check out their menu at www.nawlinzbistro.com. Fried catfish, Po' Boys, Bourbon Street Seafood Jambalaya (oooh, my wife will love this), Seafood Gumbo, Blackened Red Snapper and more. This sounds like some mighty fine Cajun cooking. I can't wait.

Their address is 3321-C Kimber Drive, Newbury Park. Call 805.499.7400 for more information.

Mermaid Tavern is Coming to the Old Roxy's Deli Location in Thousand Oaks

The Mermaid Tavern opened on Saturday, February 4th!

The Mermaid Tavern's website is www.mermaidtavernandrestaurant.com.

Mermaid Tavern (Previously Roxy's Deli), 1345 E Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks

Update 10/20/11: A "sign" of things to come. I see a mermaid.

Originally posted 8/2/11: Thanks to an observant CVG Facebook page follower and dart thrower extraordinaire (and by the way, check out the Ventura County Dart Association if you're so inclined), I've learned the name of what will soon occupy the vacated Roxy's Deli space: Mermaid Tavern

Beer is definitely recession-proof it seems, with numerous breweries popping up all over town, including Ladyface Alehouse in Agoura, The Tipsy Goat in Thousand Oaks, Brendan's Pub in Camarillo and soon The Lab Brewing Company in Agoura, possibly a Hooters in Thousand Oaks and now, Mermaid Tavern.

I've confirmed that Mermaid Tavern is shown on the CB Richard Ellis brochure for the Northstar Plaza, where subject tavern shall be located.

Stay tuned. Two Beers or Not Two Beers? That is the Question! The address of the soon-to-be Mermaid Cafe is 1345 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks.

GetTheGreen.org Photo & Video Contest Gets Teens Connected with Nature

GetTheGreen.org Photo & Video Contest Gets Teens Connected with Nature 

Mountains Restoration Trust, as a partner of GetTheGreen.org Photo and Video Contest, announced that local teens, ages 13 – 18, can submit photos and/ or videos of themselves doing outdoor activities in nature to win prizes. “This contest is an ideal opportunity for teens to get outdoors and use their creativity while having fun discovering the Santa Monica Mountains,” said Debbie Bruschaber, acting executive director of MRT. Deadline for submissions is March 14 with the winners announced on March 16. Complete entry requirements are available at www.GetTheGreen.org.  

Entries will be judged on their inspiration and powerfulness in capturing experiences in nature. First place will receive $300 and a Novara bike with helmet and lock.  Two follow-up entries will win an educational award of $200, a REI Urban Traveler Daypack and $50 gift certificate. The top five entrants who accumulate the most points of multiple entries capturing different outdoor activities will receive $60 and an REI daypack.

MRT invites teens to take photos and videos at Headwaters Corner Interpretive Center at Calabasas with hiking trails, stream and homestead cabin. “Nature and the environment are the core essence of life and we hope the contest will inspire teens to get to know the outdoors around them,” said Bruschaber. The GetTheGreen Photo & Video Contest is a collaborative effort among environmental agencies, youth organizations and businesses to help youth understand how trees, parks, gardens, streams, rivers, beaches and forests are the number one sources of clean water, clean air and so much more.

Headwaters Corner at Calabasas is located at 3815 Old Topanga Canyon Road, Calabasas and offers public programs and educational workshops on the preservation, restoration and public enjoyment of the Santa Monica Mountains. Phone (818) 591-1701.  MRT receives no corporate funding or sponsorships and relies on public support. To learn more about MRT or to make a donation, visit Mountains Restoration Trust online at www.mountainstrust.org.

El Torito Thousand Oaks Served Its Last Burrito on Tuesday, January 24th

It is with sadness to report that the Thousand Oaks El Torito on Moorpark Road (adjacent to Janss Marketplace) closed its doors last night, Tuesday, January 24th. El Torito has been in town ever since I've lived in the Conejo Valley in 1993 and has been a margarita mainstay for many. We're sorry for the employees and wish you well in quickly finding new jobs. In fact, check out one of these many recent/upcoming new restaurant openings around town.

There are** two other El Toritos in Ventura County in Oxnard and Simi Valley. For more information, visit www.eltorito.com.

** Update: WERE. The Oxnard and Simi Valley locations subsequently closed in 2016 and 2018, respectively.