Build-A-Bear Workshop Coming Soon to Pacific View Mall in Ventura

The Pacific View Mall has announced that a Build A Bear Workshop is opening soon on the first floor. Kids can select a bear or other stuffed (or I should say, un-stuffed) animal, add a voice, stuff it, choose a heart, stitch, fluff, name it, dress it bring it home for display and/or snuggling. No word yet on timing, but indeed they are now accepting job applications at www.buildabear.com.

Build A Bear's other Ventura County location is at The Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks.

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.