Color Me Mine Ceramics Studio Coming Soon to Thousand Oaks

Color Me Mine is a ceramic painting studio where you drop by anytime and select from over 400 ceramic pieces to design and paint. . For the price of a studio fee and the item you choose to paint, you can paint all day using 60+ colors and supplies! They glaze and fire your work in a kiln and your work of art will be available in 5 to 7 days.

A Thousand Oaks Color Me Mine is coming to the Paseo Market Square in Thousand Oaks at 3707 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard this Fall. It will be located near Al Mulino Eatalia and The Melting Pot.

More information at thousandoaks.colormemine.com.

Cask Alehouse to Open in the Near Future in Ventura

Cask Alehouse is anticipating an October/November grand opening date at 5952 Telegraph Road in Ventura. Their beer and wine license has been approved and they will be serving 20 rotating California craft beers and a selection of wines. Updates at www.facebook.com/caskalehouse.

The Dudes' Brewing Company Tasting Room Opened at Janss Marketplace on July 15th

Heard today that The Dudes' Brewing Company Tasting Room opened yesterday at Janss Marketplace, adjacent to Karma Indian Cuisine on the southeast side of the mall. So of course I stopped by today to try it out.

There are 24 beers on tap of all types. I bought a four beer taster for $7 and enjoyed three of the four. The woman next to me suggested the Grandma's Pecan English Brown Ale and it wasn't my taste, but the others I enjoyed. The word at the bar today that was that the Orange Julius IPA was a crowd favorite. I didn't try it.

No food service here, though they do have snacks, like the goldfish crackers I munched on. You are welcome to bring your own food.

More information and hours of operation at www.thedudesbrew.com/the-tasting-room-thousand-oaks.

Newbury Park Starbucks to Relocate to a New Drive Thru Location on July 14th

The Starbucks at 587 N. Ventura Park Road in Newbury Park (in the Ralphs plaza) will be closing on July 10th but will be re-opening across the street at 540 N. Ventu Park Road in the Thousand Oaks Marketplace, where Walgreens and Walmart Neighborhood Market reside on July 14th.

The new Starbucks drive thru will be opening on July 14th. Start your engines.

For those that can't go a day without their Starbucks, the sign on the door tells customers to visit the nearby location at Newbury & Kelly (in the Kohl's Plaza).

It seems like just yesterday that the Starbucks near Home Depot in Newbury Park moved across the parking lot at The Village at Newbury Park to a drive thru location. That actually took place on January 18, 2013, nearly 3 1/2 years ago!

The other Newbury Park Starbucks locations are at Reino and Kimber and at Target. www.starbucks.com/store-locator/search/location/91320

What will take the place of the vacated Starbucks? No idea at this point.

German Discount Grocer ALDI to Open Simi Valley Store in Early 2016

Update 5/29/16: ALDI indicates at www.aldi.us/en/new-to-aldi/grand-openings/grand-openings/simi-valley-ca that the grand opening will be June 16 but an Open House event will take place from 11am to 4pm on Sunday, June 12 where you can check things out but not but not purchase items...yet. Grand opening events 6/16 to 6/19 include free samples, special drawings and free re-usable bags. Store hours are 9am to 9pm and location is 425-A E. Cochran Street, Simi Valley.

See Note 1

German grocery chain ALDI will be opening a store in early 2016 at the former Office Depot location at the Simi at the Plaza shopping center in Simi Valley.

ALDI operates nearly 1,400 U.S. stores in 32 states, primarily from Kansas to the East Coast. The chain sells over 1,300 of the most frequently purchased grocery and household items under its own brands. It opened its first U.S. store in 1976.

In June, ALDI announced it will launch its first Southern California stores in March 2016, with a plan to open approximately 25 stores before July 2016. With regional headquarters and warehouse in Moreno Valley, ALDI indicates it will employ over 1,100 Southern Californians by the end of 2016.

In its press release, ALDI indicated it will offer starting wages of $13/hour for store associates, up to $21/hour for long-standing associates. Employees will average 33 to 40 hours per week and will be eligible for full benefits, including health insurance, dental coverage and 401(k) plan.

To apply for a job at ALDI, visit aldistorejobs.com.

More on the California grand opening of ALDI at www.aldi.us/en/new-to-aldi/california-grand-opening.

More about ALDI:

• Based in Germany with almost 10,000 stores in 18 countries.
• Founded by brothers Karl and Theo Albrecht in 1946 after taking over their father's store that had operated since 1913.
• ALDI is an abbreviation for ALbrecht DIskont (i.e. Discount)
• ALDI operates under two divisions, Aldi Nord and Aldi Sud. Aldi Sud operates the U.S. ALDI stores. Aldi Nord owns the Trader Joe's chain.
• Yes, Aldi Nord bought the Trader Joe's chain in 1979. The first Trader Joe's store opened in 1967 in Pasadena.
• ALDI is one of the world's largest privately-owned companies.

Note 1: "AldiWorldwideLogo" by Source. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia

Regal Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks Grand Opening on Thursday, June 9th

The new Regal Cinemas at Janss Marketplace is offering a “soft opening” fundraiser event June 5, 6 & 7 that will benefit three local charities - Play Conejo., Variety - The Children's Charity and Make-a-Wish Tri Counties.

100% of proceeds raised on the $3 tickets, $3 popcorn and $3 soft drinks will be divided evenly among the three charities.

Visit www.regmovies.com/Theatres/Grand-Openings/Regal-Janss-Marketplace-9 for more information. Tickets will be available at the box office only, beginning the morning of Sunday, June 5.

The official grand opening is Thursday, June 9

FREE Small Popcorn & FREE Small Fountain Drink  with each paid admission June 9 - June 16 at Regal Janss Marketplace 9 Only.

Posted in March 2016:

As anticipated when the Janss Regency Theater closed its doors on December 31, 2015, Regal Cinemas will be "coming soon" to Janss Marketplace, as noted by Janss on the Janss Marketplace Facebook Page.

For movie theaters throughout Ventura County, visit THIS LINK.

Vintage Grocers to Open 2nd Location at The Promenade at Westlake in Fall 2016

Vintage Grocers, a curated community-minded market and retailer of gourmet, organic, natural and conventional foods, will be coming to The Promenade at Westlake in fall 2016. Vintage Grocers' first location is at the Trancas Country Market located in Malibu.

Double the size of the current store, the Westlake Village Vintage Grocers location will offer an even wider range of in-store products from the finest meats, produce and seafood to fruits, vegetables and more— sourced from Southern California’s leading food establishments and local artisans.

Further enhancing the new space, Vintage Grocers at The Promenade at Westlake will feature a private wine tasting room, fresh poke, olive bars, as well as pressed juices daily. In addition, the new store will include expanded bakery, meat and seafood selections, and a variety of grab-and-go stations such as burrito, pizza, ice cream and coffee bars.

Vintage Grocers at The Promenade at Westlake is scheduled to open in fall 2016. For more information about Vintage Grocers visit www.vintagegrocers.com and for more information about The Promenade at Westlake visit www.shoppromenade.com.  

PennyMac Corporate Headquarters to Relocate From Moorpark to Thousand Oaks

At yesterday's "State of the City" address at Cal Lutheran, City of Thousand Oaks Mayor Al Adam shared the news that Moorpark financial services provider PennyMac is moving its corporate headquarters from Moorpark to Thousand Oaks, along with about 300 jobs. Earlier this year, PennyMac inked a deal for 60,466 sq ft of space at 3043 Townsgate Road in Westlake Village.

PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange under symbol PFSI. More information at www.pennymacusa.com.

The Mayor also indicated that China based Herri Holdings Corp is in the process of building out an 88,000 sq ft pharmaceutical manufacturing facility at 2300 Corporate Center Drive in Thousand Oaks.

We were also reminded that Easton Baseball/Softball will be relocating from its current Van Nuys location to Thousand Oaks when its current lease ends in 2016. Its CEO noted in video footage that Easton has outgrown its current space and looks forward to moving to the Conejo Valley, with its great local baseball/softball tradition. According to an August Pacific Coast Business Times article, Easton's new headquarters at 3500 Willow Lane, Thousand Oaks will entail 90,000 sq ft and will include a 15,200 sq ft indoor training facility where new products will be developed.

And lastly, we heard about the first ever NCAA national championship in Ventura County history earned on November 21st by the California Lutheran University Women Regals Volleyball Team. The 9th ranked Regals topped 6th ranked Wittenberg University of Ohio 25-23, 25-18, 25-16 in their third NCAA title game appearance. More at www.clusports.com/volleyball/news/11980.

A New Häagen-Dazs® Scoop Shop Appears to Be Opening Soon in Thousand Oaks

Update 11/20/15: Well Betsy M filled us in that the Haagen-Dazs Westlake Village is now closed. That didn't last long! This was confirmed by the fact that this location has vaporized from the Haagen-Dazs website at www.haagendazs.us and the phone is no longer in service. 

Update 6/9/14: The new Haagen-Dazs at North Ranch Plaza, 3825 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Westlake Village opened its doors about nine days ago. They are open 10am to 10pm. Call 805.379.9840 for more information.

Originally posted 3/2/14:

What is that sign in the window of the vacant suite next to Jersey Mike's Subs in the North Ranch Plaza, 3825 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks?

Let's take a closer look at that sign in the window.

I'm going out on a limb here, but it would appear that a Häagen-Dazs® shop will be opening here in Spring 2014. Assuming these signs are not a cruel prank, this will be the 2nd Häagen-Dazs® shop in the Conejo Valley, joining the Häagen-Dazs® Scoop Shop at The Oaks Mall. Visit www.haagendazs.com for more information.

As we are big fans of frozen treats here at CVG, we do our best to keep track of frozen yogurt, gelato, ice cream and other frozen treats in and around Ventura County.

The Häagen-Dazs® brand was originated by Reuben Mattus in New York in the early 1920s, starting out with only three flavors: vanilla, chocolate, and coffee. By 1973, Häagen-Dazs® was available throughout the U.S. and the first "Scoop Shop" opened in 1976. In 1983 the brand was sold to The Pillsbury Company. General Mills bought Pillsbury in 2001. But in the U.S. and Canada, the Häagen-Dazs® brand is licensed to Nestlé and its products are produced by Nestle subsidiary Dreyer's. Too much information? OK, I'll stop there :)