McGraw Hill Financial Announces it Seeks "Strategic Alternatives" for J.D. Power

Last week, McGraw Hill Financial announced it will be exploring "strategic alternatives" for J.D. Power, our local Westlake Village based marketing information services company. McGraw Hill indicates 2016 revenues will approach $350 million.

"Strategic alternatives" basically means seeking a buyer. Reuters indicates J.D. Power could fetch as much as $1 billion in a sale.

J.D. Power and Associates was founded on April 1, 1968 by J.D. "Dave" Power III with his wife Julie at their home in Calabasas. On April 1, 2005 the company was acquired by The McGraw-Hill Companies (renamed McGraw Hill Financial in 2013 to more closely align the company name to its core business).

McGraw Hill did not disclose the purchase price of J.D. Power and Associates in 2005, but it did indicate in its 2006 annual SEC filing that it paid $461.8 million to acquire several businesses, including Vista Research, J.D. Power and 49% of CRISIL, Limited.

J.D. Power contributed $144.7 million of revenue to McGraw Hill's bottom line from 4/1/05 to 12/31/05, which translates to about $190 million in annual revenue that year.

Learn more about J.D. Power at www.jdpower.com.

Peking Duck Restaurant Looks to Be Opening Soon in Simi Valley

We were on an outing to Harley's Valley Bowl the other day when we saw the Peking Duck sign up at 5225 Cochran Street, Simi Valley. The sign says "coming soon" so stay tuned. 

UPDATE: Peking Duck opened the last week of December.

TWELVE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS TO DO IN SIMI VALLEY

Sephora Coming to The Promenade at Westlake This November

Nov Update: Sephora is now open.

Posted 8/17/15: Caruso Affiliated’s The Promenade at Westlake will welcome beauty retailer Sephora this November. A visionary beauty-retail concept, Sephora's unique, open-sell environment features an ever-increasing amount of classic and emerging brands across a broad range of product categories including skincare, color, fragrance, body and haircare, in addition to Sephora's own private label, SEPHORA COLLECTION. From unparalleled beauty advice to professional makeovers, guests will be able to tap into the latest products, skincare and expertise, as well as shop favorite brands like Marc Jacobs Beauty, Formula X, Bite Beauty, Fresh, Drybar, and more.

The Promenade at Westlake is located at 100 Promenade Way, Westlake Village and is open Monday – Thursday: 10am-8pm, Friday – Saturday: 10am-9pm and Sunday: 11am-7pm

www.sephora.com  / www.shoppromenade.com

Butler's Pizza Now Open in Former Home of Mulberry Street Pizzeria in Thousand Oaks

A couple weeks ago, Mulberry Street Pizzeria at 1655 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks changed ownership and became Butler's Pizza, a family-owned pizza parlor.  I called them (same phone number as before 805.379.1121). Visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Butlers-Pizza-1388453068128799.

Mulberry Street originally opened at this location in April 2013, about a month after the previous occupant, PizzaSalad, closed its doors after five years in business.

Thanks to Alison F for the heads up!

$2.00 slices and $1 sodas with a local student ID BUTLER'S PIZZA

A photo posted by Butler's Pizza (@butlerspizza.to) on Nov 2, 2015 at 12:22pm PST

Gino's Bistro in Newbury Park Indicates Gino to Retire in the Coming Months

Gino's Bistro (circa 2010)

Gino of Gino's Bistro in Newbury Park has announced he will be retiring in the coming months, with an anticipated closing date likely the first week of January 2016. (FOLLOW-UP: Gino's last day of operation was December 31st.)

Gino has been in the restaurant business over 40 years and has owned a number of restaurants, including Gino's Bistro (since 2008), Di Gennara in Woodland Hills and Dolcetto's in Agoura Hills.

He is hosting what looks to be his last wine tasting dinner this Sunday, November 1st. 

On a personal note, I've enjoyed Gino and his food over the years and I know many others that have too. He will be missed, but we hope he enjoys retirement!

Gino's is located at 1620 Newbury Road in Newbury Park, next to Cronies. Phone is 805.498.3188. 

ginosbistro.com

(Note: Thanks to Julie Freedman of Newbury Park, who gave us the heads up.)

Five Threads Brewing Company Opening Tonight in Westlake Village

Five Threads Brewing Company is opening its doors tonight at 31133 Via Colinas, Suite 109, Westlake Village (west of Lindero Canyon Road) offering locally brewed craft beers in its tasting room. 

Five Threads? The five threads represent the five ingredients of beer: Water, Malt, Hops, Yeast and "You and Me." 

Open Wednesday through Sunday (closed for brewing on Monday/Tuesday). Visit www.fivethreadsbrewing.com for more information.

M∙A∙C Cosmetics Opening at The Promenade at Westlake This Fall

Update 10/29/15: M-A-C Cosmetics is now open at The Promenade at Westlake. www.maccosmetics.com 

Posted 8/12/15: The Promenade at Westlake welcomes the world’s leading professional makeup authority. M∙A∙C Cosmetics is scheduled to open its newest location at The Promenade at Westlake, this fall. A favorite of professional makeup artists, M∙A∙C Cosmetics will offer guests its finest quality, prestige makeup and services. 

The Promenade at Westlake is located at 100 Promenade Way, Westlake Village

Hours: Monday – Thursday: 10am-8pm, Friday – Saturday: 10am-9pm, Sunday: 11am-7pm

www.maccosmetics.com / www.shoppromenade.com

Industry Bar & Grill Now Open at The Summit at Calabasas

UPDATE: Industry Bar & Grill closed sometime in the latter part of 2017.

Industry Bar & Grill is now open at the former location of Wolf Creek at The Summit, 26787 Agoura Rd, Calabasas. They have been open about a week and just received their liquor license yesterday for dinner service at 5pm. Offering a variety of entrees, salads, shared plates, burgers and more.  Visit their Facebook page for more information.

Nice, large outdoor fire pit at Industry Bar & Grill

Cre8 Pizza Opened this Summer in Simi Valley

Update 6/25/16: Cre8 Pizza closed its doors a couple months ago. 

Cre8 Pizza, Salad, Crepes and Gelato opened at 1263 Simi Town Center Way, Suite H-5 this past August. Cre8 offers freshly prepared dough, sauces and other items for its selection of salads, pizzas and savory and sweet crepes. And they also offer 16 flavors of gelato and sorbettos.

This is a "Cre8 your own pizza" type of place, like Pieology, MOD Pizza, PizzaRev and others, offering a variety of toppings of your choosing. You can also Cre8 your own salads. I notice the price on their menu at www.cre8pizza.com is $7.49, which from my vantage point is very reasonable. For more information, call 805.285.5644. Located in the building just east of Jefferson Way at Simi Town Center Way, near Firehouse Subs and Chipotle.