Eight Former Ventura County Area Albertsons/Vons to Become Haggen in April

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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 Open to the Public Fridays through Sundays in Moorpark

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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.

Juice It Up Raw Juice Bar Coming Soon to Thousand Oaks

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UPDATE August 2018: Juice It Up Thousand Oaks recently closed its doors. They must have just run out of juice, so to speak.

UPDATE August 2018: Juice It Up Thousand Oaks recently closed its doors. They must have just run out of juice, so to speak.

CVG Facebook follower Charlotte H tipped us off that Juice It Up Raw Juice Bar is planning to open its first Ventura County location at the Conejo Valley Plaza Shopping Center, 1414 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks, in the former home of Golden Spoon (and more recently Tizzy Yogurt Cafe, which closed in late 2014). UPDATE: Juice it Up opened in June. www.facebook.com/JuiceItUpThousandOaks

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What is Juice It Up? According to its Facebook page, "Recognized as Southern California's original raw juice and smoothie bar, Juice It Up! was founded in 1995 by a couple of guys who after spending several unfulfilling years in the corporate world, simply wanted to work for themselves. What started as a single raw juice and smoothie bar in Orange County turned into a California phenomenon spreading like wildfire. Today, Juice It Up has nearly 100 stores across California, Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico."

Juice It Up's menu includes raw juices and juice blends, smoothies, superfruit smoothies and bowls and fruit and veggie fusions like Raw Fusion™ - Kale, spinach, pineapple, apple, banana and Red Fusion™ - Beet, pineapple, red grapes, strawberries, cucumber, banana.

For updates, visit www.juiceitup.com.

A photo posted by Juice It Up! 🍎🍊🍋🌿 Official (@juiceitup) on Mar 23, 2015 at 6:19am PDT

Five Local Fresh & Easy Locations Slated for Closure in Ventura County Area

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Multiple news sources reported today that Fresh & Easy plans to close 50 of its stores, including 30 in Southern California, and more locally here in Ventura County, five stores.

CBS Los Angeles and ABC News indicate that stores in Newbury Park, Oak Park, Camarillo, the Oxnard store at Rose and Gonzales and the Ventura store at Telegraph and Day Roads.

See this post on the CVG Facebook page for other local resident comments.

Local area stores that were NOT slated for closure by news sources include Ventura (Seaward and Thompson), Oxnard (Channel Islands and Rose), Moorpark, Simi Valley and Santa Barbara. www.freshandeasy.com

Twisted Oak Tavern Gastropub and Brewery in Agoura Hills

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Twisted Oak Tavern is a new Agoura Hills gastropub and brewery that offers guests a fresh twist on the classic tavern concept

Jointly conceived by managing partner Jeff Walker and partner and head brewmaster Roger Bott, the tavern features creative California cuisine made almost entirely from scratch using locally-sourced ingredients; a broad selection of popular domestic, imported, and craft beer to accompany the tavern’s in-house brews produced on site under The LAB Brewing Company brand; a robust wine list highlighted by award-winning vintages from prominent regional wineries; and one-of-a-kind, artisan cocktails made with fresh, locally-grown citrus juices, premium spirits, and house-made ginger beer, tonic water, and cold-brewed coffee on nitrogen.

Designed by Executive Chef Jon Peloso, Twisted Oak Tavern’s menu offers an original, inspired, and highly-innovative array of flavorful starters, salads, sandwiches, flatbreads, burgers, vegetables, entrées, and desserts — nearly all prepared from scratch using fresh, locally-produced, farm-to-table seasonal ingredients.

With over 20 years of professional experience in the culinary arts, Chef Peloso oversees a scratch kitchen in which most menu items and their various components are created on the premises from the ground up:  from tangy dipping sauces, salad dressings, sandwich spreads, and aiolis, and baked-daily tortillas and flatbreads, to the house-ground burgers fashioned from a blend of Angus chuck, short ribs, and pancetta and the tavern’s delectable desserts.

Located just off the 101 Freeway at 30105 Agoura Road in Agoura Hills (just east of Reyes Adobe), Twisted Oak Tavern is open seven days a week, including most holidays, for lunch, happy hour, dinner, and late-night dining and cocktails. For more information, please visit www.twistedoaktavern.pub.

Jeanette’s Edelweiss to Open in Former Home of Brats Brothers in Newbury Park

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Update 3/24/15: Grand opening is this Friday, March 27th, at 6pm.

Update 3/17/15: Jeanette's Edelweiss indicates it will be doing a grand opening on Saturday, the 21st for lunch and dinner. Updates at www.facebook.com/jeanettesedelweiss.

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Posted 1/19/15: As mentioned on the CVG Facebook page on January 5th, the former Brats Brothers (and prior to that, the beloved Lamppost Pizza) location at 2160A Newbury Road in Newbury Park is slated to become Jeanette's Edelweiss German Restaurant in the coming months.

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Jeanette’s Edelweiss will offer classic German food including weiner schnitzel, bratwurst, spatzle, goulish, apple strudel and more, a selection of German beers, friendly service and a live band playing German folk music along with rock ‘n roll. Also on the menu are beef tenderloin medallion sliders, Rhineland Cold Cut Platter, Authentic Bavarian Weißwurst, herb-infused chicken sausage, Bavarian Goulash, Munich Roasted Chicken, Kassler Pork Chops, Atlantic Salmon Filet, Vegan Entrees (made without soy) including bratwurst, sauerbraten and sauteed vegetable casserole and much more.

I also see Black Forest Torte, German Pound Cake, Cheesecake, Cherry Strudel and Apple Dumplings on the menu. Mmmm.

Celebrity German chef Kurt Ehrlich, who has served mouth-watering German specialties to Hollywood stars and several U.S. Presidents, will ensure that patrons enjoy a true taste of Bavaria.

The owners are Jeanette Buerling Milio and Jim Milio. Jeanette is a highly successful German movie producer who has lived in Los Angeles for 15 years. Jim is a successful writer, producer and director who has been involved numerous productions over the years, including Rescue 911 (CBS), Dog Whisperer (National Geographic) and a co-executive producer of My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

Jim will be writing and directing a reality series covering around the launch and behind he scenes of Jeanette’s Edelweiss  Edelweiss in Hollywood.

Can we handle this much excitement in Newbury Park!? Bring it!!

Updates will be posted here when available but visit www.jeanettesedelweiss.com for more information.

Former tenant Brats Brothers that opened in December 2012 and closed suddenly in February 2014

And scenes from the still talked about Lamppost Pizza that closed its doors in December 2011 (Photo Credit: Scott Harrison)

Anarbagh Indian Cuisine Opening Next Month in Westlake Village

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Anarbagh Indian Cuisine indicates it will be opening its new Westlake Village location next month at 30853 E Thousand Oaks Blvd, Westlake Village, which happens to be the unexpectedly former home of China Garden in the TJ Maxx Plaza (at Lindero Canyon). Thanks to Mark S for the tip yesterday.

UPDATE: Anarbagh is now indeed open. I believe it opened in May.

According to the Anarbagh website at www.anarbaghla.com, "We have more than 20 years of experience in making delicious traditional dishes, with recipes from the North and the South of India. Our hard work has paid off by winning the recognition of LA Times & Daily News as the best Indian restaurant in Southern California, and being critically acclaimed by AAA Magazine, LA Times and Daily News."

Other Anarbagh locations are in Los Angeles, Woodland Hills, Encino and Beverly Hills. For updates, check the Anarbagh Westlake Village Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Anarbagh-Westlake/846173025405922.