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.
The Collection at RiverPark recently announced the opening of three new stores this past weekend. Gap, the global apparel and accessories brand focused on delivering casual, American style, will offer its classic, iconic clothing. It'Sugar is a trendy sweets shop. ANGL offers luxurious, yet affordable clothing.
Visit The Collection's directory map at thecollectionrp.com/shop/directory for how to find these new stores.
Sorry to report that Pinot's Palette closed its doors in last August 2017.
Update 4/18/15: Pinot's Palette plans to open to the public with its first class on Thursday, May 7th. Visit www.pinotspalette.com/westlakevillage to sign up!
Originally posted 1/31/15:
Pinot's Palette is coming soon to Westlake Village at 2879 Agoura Road (at Village Glen). Pinot's Palette is an upscale studio where adults can "Paint. Drink. Have Fun." Enjoy a night out with your friends, enjoy a glass of wine or beer, and be an artist for the night. No art experience is required. Sip away and in two to three hours create a work of art.
Specific opening date will be announced at a later date. Check www.pinotspalette.com/WestlakeVillage or www.facebook.com/PinotsPaletteWestlakeVillage for updates.
Haggen (pronounced “hay-gunn”) is a Bellingham, Washington based grocery store chain founded in 1933 that operates 18 stores in Washington and Oregon. Last December, it acquired 146 Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions stores in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington; 83 of these stores are located in California.
What brought about this sale was a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ruling that 168 stores be divested as part of the Albertsons/Vons merger to ensure adequate competition. Haggen purchased the majority of these stores, with the remaining 22 stores (not located in California) purchased by other grovery chains.
Haggen has begun taking ownership and converting the 83 stores across California in March, April and May. The first store converted to Haggen was the Albertsons in Carlsbad, which became Haggen on March 9th.
So here are the stores set to become Haggen stores this April in Ventura County and adjacent areas:
Haggen notes that shoppers can expect enhanced, fresh offerings, homegrown quality and affordable prices, along with exceptional service and the friendly faces they already know in the stores that have been acquired. As each new store is transformed into the Haggen brand, employees will be invited to become Haggen employees.
Haggen indicates that is supports regional farms, ranches, fisheries and other businesses, creating a lasting and sustainable local food economy. For more information, visit haggen.com.
Kneady Bakery is now open to the public Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. inside the Community Marketplace located at 709 Science Drive in Moorpark. Grand opening weekend is April 3 - 5, with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Friday, April 3 at 1:00 p.m. at the Kneady booth #436. The Ceremony will include VIP Guests and fresh-baked goodies for visitors.
The Kneady bakers are confectionary nerds, rebelling against your ordinary, everyday bakery. They do not make cakes or cupcakes, but instead specialize in gourmet dessert and brunch bars, custom gift baskets, and unique treats. Founders, artist Ashley Guerrero and globe-trotter Kati Angelini, personally oversee the baking of each product. Kneady participates in official parties and style lounges for the Oscars, Emmys, Golden Globes, Sundance Festival, Coachella, and Grammys, with treats such as chocolate chunk Wookies, Robert Brownie Juniors (made in an Iron Pan), and their most famous Ed MacaRooneys.
If you can’t visit their storefront, items can be ordered by the dozen through the online bakery and delivered throughout Los Angeles, Ventura County and the coastal cities. Kneady Bakery also does On-Set Catering, Private Celebrity Events, and Fundraisers.
Donating their time for a good cause is part of their culture, and they have donated their baked treats to several different charities and fundraisers including Toys for Tots, Cancer Awareness, and the Entertainment Aids Alliance. Their gift baskets are often found on the desks of Hollywood’s hardest working executives and creatives. They provide personal catering for VIP parties, and special events and occasions, with past events including book signings, music releases and theatre openings. Kneady Bakery uses mostly organic ingredients, and recycled and green packaging materials. Gluten free and vegan items are offered alongside anything you might be craving. If they haven’t invented it yet, it might be time.
To find out more about the 2 Baked Girls, visit www.kneadybakery.com.
Bottle & Pint is a specialty craft beer store and tap room that opened last month at 1714 Newbury Road, Suite G, Newbury Park, to the right of Holdren's and Spumoni, and to the left of Road Runner Sports. Heck, buy some shoes, go for a run, eat, drink, repeat!
Bottle & Pint's tap room offers a rotating list of over a dozen craft beers. The bottle shop has craft beers that you can drink there or take home. And for food, they encourage grabbing grub at the nearby eateries.
More information at www.bottleandpint.com or call 805.795.2254.
Update January 26, 2015: Tifa Westlake at 30760 Russell Ranch Road, Suite A, Westlake Village is now open to the public!
Originally posted July 30, 2014:
Tifa Chocolate & Gelato will be opening a location at The Shoppes at Westlake Village. Tifa serves up gelato, handmade chocolates, artisan chocolate bars, European drinking chocolate and espresso drinks at its current location at Whizin Market Square, 28888 Roadside Drive in Agoura Hills. That would make these locations about four miles apart, which is fine by me when chocolate is involved!
Watch for updates here or at shoppesatwestlakevillage.com.
On a recent visit with the kids to the only remaining Lamppost Pizza in the Conejo Valley, I noticed the Karma Baker sign at 1145 Lindero Canyon Road in Westlake Village, in the Pavilions Plaza at the southwest corner of Lindero and Kanan.
Karma Baker offers organic, vegan, dairy-free, egg-free and gluten-free baked goods, including carrot cupcakes, chocolate cupcakes, cookies, muffins, tarts, seasonal pies and more.
Owner Celine Ikeler has a passion for baking vegan, gluten-free with her own flour blend that, unlike most store brands, does not include beans, nuts or soy. She has partnered with vegan ultra-endurance athlete, best-seller and motivational speaker Rich Roll and his wife Julie in establishing this bakery.
Bakery hours are 9am to 5pm Monday through Friday. Although their website at www.karmabaker.com indicates "by appointment" on weekends, their Facebook page indicates 9am to 2pm on Saturdays.
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The Community Marketplace Indoor Swap Meet opened in Moorpark on Halloween. Housed in a 253,500 sq ft building, it is the largest venue of its kind in the local area. Currently (as of December 2014) there are 80 vendors selling items ranging from plants, furniture, clothing, shoes, vintage items, jewelry, lots of handmade items, electronics and much more, as well as a home improvement area where you can find local service providers.
Community Marketplace is a "permanent" indoor mall open year round on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 6pm. This December it is also open weekdays through Christmas Eve. Operators are looking to bring in three gourmet food trucks in the future.
Located at 709 Science Drive in Moorpark, near the junction of the 23 and 118. From Thousand Oaks, take the 23 north to New Los Angeles Avenue and turn left. Then turn right on Science Drive.
Learn more at www.shopcommunitymarketplace.com.
Popped Fresh is a gourmet popcorn and fudge store with over 50 flavors popped and prepared at the store that opened recently. The store is located at 5013 Kanan Road, Agoura Hills, across the parking lot from IHOP. Popcorn is popped fresh daily and ift baskets, tins, and boxes for every occasion are available at the store.
Popped Fresh offers over 50 flavors of fresh popped popcorn on premises. Store hours are Tuesday-Saturday 10-6, Sunday 11-3. To learn more, visit www.poppedfresh.com or call 818.707.7200.
This is the former location of Tifa Chocolate and Gelato, which moved to Whizin Market Square in May 2013.
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