Local "Things to Do" Businesses That Recently Have Closed Their Doors

Running a business of any type is a challenge and that certainly holds true for the "things to do" types of businesses highlighted here in Conejo Valley Guide. While most of us patronize these types of businesses...gyms, indoor play, gaming and the like....the reality is that it takes a lot of work covering the overhead and making a reasonable profit. So be sure to check them out at Do Something and Kid Fun and support them as much as you can!

That said, in recent months and years, a number of these business have sadly closed their doors:

• Newbury Park Athletic Club (August 2012)
• Knuckleheads Gym in Newbury Park
• Body Temple Gym in Camarillo
• Imagine That Indoor Play in Ventura
• NextGen Gaming in Newbury Park
• Pandora's Paintbox in Newbury Park
• RollerDome in Thousand Oaks (October 2010)
• Young Chef's Academy in Simi Valley (2012)
• Jolly Jumps Party Place in Camarillo (September 2011)
• Simply Ceramics in Thousand Oaks (2010)

 But on the positive side, a number of new business have opened in recent years:

• Ferrum Fitness in Agoura
• Rock Nation School in Newbury Park (August 2012)
• Carpino School of Dance in Thousand Oaks (Fall 2012)
• CA Kiddo Club in Agoura (December 2011)
• Gymboree Play & Music in Thousand Oaks (March 2012)
• Sky High Sports The Trampoline Place in Camarillo (October 2010)
• Cinepolis Theatre in Westlake Village (previously Mann Theatre) (Summer 2012)

These are just a few. Now go have some fun!

Mourning Tuesday Morning Thousand Oaks

Was surprised, well, not THAT surprised, when I came across this sign at what used to be Tuesday Morning at the Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks. The store closed on June 30th.

Sure looks a lot brighter in there without the shelves up the ceiling!

If you're a Tuesday Morning fan, there other other stores in Camarillo, Ventura, Woodland Hills and Chatsworth. 

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.

No Mann's Land - The Final Remaining Mann Theatre in Westlake Village to Close on Tuesday, December 27th

The Mann Theatre at The Promenade at Westlake closed on December 27, 2011, as mentioned in this Dec 22 San Fernando Valley Business Journal article.

This was the last of the Mann theaters. Recently the Mann Theaters at the Janss Marketplace were sold to Regency Theaters and earlier this year the Mann Chinese Theater was sold and now is simply called Chinese Theatre.

The space will be taken over by Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas, which will open a high-end theater with plush seating and waiters. Nice! Sounds like a Muvico competitor! This VIP concept has been in place since 1999 in Mexico and they are quickly expanding into Southern California.

Cinépolis is the 4th largest movie theater chain in the world, which is news to me. Probably because most of their 230 theaters worldwide are in Mexico.

Jungle Land Indoor Kids Playground in Agoura Closing Its Doors November 22nd

UPDATE: New owners have taken over and opened the facility as CA Kiddo club on December 5, 2011.

Today, Jungle Land, the 5,000 sq ft indoor play facility on Canwood Street in Agoura geared towards kids up to 6 years old, announced that it will be closing. Its last day will be November 22, 2011. Jungle Land has provided safe indoor play for little ones over the last 6 years.

Jungle Land joins Jolly Jumps Party Place in Camarillo that closed its doors on September 30, 2011 (though Jolly Jumps still provides rental bounce houses and other items for parties) and The Roller Dome indoor skating rink that closed its doors in October 2010.

It is never a happy time to hear about a local business closing, though there could be a number of reasons for a particular business doing so. And of course while some places close, others open, like My Party Playhouse in Agoura and Sky High Sports - The Trampoline Place in Camarillo.

For over 100 venues and ideas for birthday parties around Ventura County, CLICK HERE!

Wachovia at Janss Marketplace Closes and Combines With Local Wells Fargo in Thousand Oaks

The "Available" signs were the first clue that the old Wachovia Banking Center at the Janss Marketplace (adjacent to Toys R Us) has been closed. The sign on the door says the operations of this location will be combined into the Wells Fargo located at 140 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, across from The Tipsy Goat. This is not a complete surprise, given Well Fargo purchased Wachovia several years ago.

From my vantage point, this would be an OUTSTANDING location for a kids indoor play area/birthday party venue, given its proximity to Toys R Us! But of course it would have to be popular enough to pay the rent.

Anchor Has Been Lowered at Anchor Blue

I remember shopping at Miller's Outpost as a kid. Miller's Outpost became Anchor Blue in the 1990s and I've never been into an Anchor Blue store. And perhaps that is why they filed bankruptcy for a 2nd time this month and are calling it quits. The first time they filed bankruptcy was in May 2009.

That means you now have another store to find some deep discounts. They currently are advertising 40-60% off. There are Anchor Blue stores at the Pacific View Mall in Ventura (805.639.0462) and Oxnard Esplanade (805.988.8003). Employees are not sure when the stores will officially close, but they are in process of selling off their remaining inventory.

More info at www.anchorblue.com.

Revolution Surf Company in Newbury Park Closed Its Doors in November

Camarillo Location on Daily DriveSurf's Down! Just realized there was something missing from the Conejo Gateway Plaza at 701 Wendy Drive near the intersection of Old Conejo Road in Newbury Park. Revolution Surf Company closed its doors last November and consolidated its inventory into its other location at 1775 Daily Drive in Camarillo. That's only about 7 miles away.