IKEA to Open at Its New, Nearly Double in Size, Burbank Store on Wednesday, February 8th

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Copyright: darios / 123RF Stock Photo

Copyright: darios / 123RF Stock Photo

IKEA announced earlier this week that it will be relocating from its current store in Burbank to a brand new location at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, February 8. The address is 805 S. San Fernando Boulevard (about 36 miles from Thousand Oaks).

This new store will be 456,000 sq ft, making it the largest IKEA store in the United States, and nearly double the 242,000 sq ft current store size. As a comparison, The Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks is 1.2 million sq ft and the old, long-vacant K-Mart building on Hampshire Road is about 116,000 sq ft. Coincidentally, Janss Marketplace is 456,000 sq ft.

There are currently 43 IKEA stores in the U.S., with a 44th store opening in Columbus, OH in the summer of 2017.

Customers can begin lining up at the store three hours in advance, at 6:00 a.m., to partake in the festivities – and soon can learn of more grand opening plans and promotions at IKEA-USA.com/Burbank.

Prior to the grand opening of the new, larger IKEA Burbank, customers can continue to shop at the original Burbank store through Saturday evening, February 4, when the old store will close permanently.

The new store, which will include 1,700 parking spaces, is being built on 22 acres west of San Fernando Boulevard and south of Providencia Avenue – less than one mile from the existing store (which originally opened in November 1990 on 6.4 acres). 

The new, more spacious IKEA Burbank will feature a larger quantity of the nearly 10,000 exclusively designed items, 50 inspirational room settings, three model home interiors, a supervised children’s play area, and a larger (600-seat) restaurant serving Swedish specialties.

Other family-friendly features include a ‘Children’s IKEA’ area in the showroom, baby-care rooms, play areas throughout the store, and preferred parking. In addition, IKEA offers a variety of customer services such as home delivery, product assembly, product picking and delivery as well as an IKEA FAMILY loyalty program.

Learn more at www.ikea.com/us/en/store/burbank

Since its 1943 founding in Sweden, IKEA has offered home furnishings of good design and function, at affordable prices. IKEA incorporates responsible social practices and sustainability into its business model, and supports initiatives that benefit children and the environment. There are currently more than 390 IKEA stores in 48 countries, including 43 in the U.S. IKEA has been ranked among “Best Companies to Work For” and, as further investment in its coworkers, has raised its own minimum wage twice in two years. For more information see IKEA-USA.com, @IKEAUSANews, @IKEAUSA or IKEAUSA on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest.

Simi Valley Police Department Announces SAFECAM Camera Registry Program

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SAFECAM is the Simi Valley Police Department’s newest crime fighting program and represents another opportunity for the police department to partner with local businesses and community members to help create an even safer place to live, work, and play. Through SAFECAM residents and business owners who operate security cameras have the opportunity to help the Simi Valley Police Department prevent and solve crime.

SAFECAM is a database of personal security cameras owned and operated by businesses and residents in the City of Simi Valley. Those who have security cameras on their business or residence are encouraged to register their cameras through SAFECAM. In the event a crime, traffic collision or other law enforcement related event occurs near the area where registered security cameras are located, Simi Valley Police Department personnel will be able to quickly contact the owner of the camera to request the footage. By being able to quickly locate and view security footage, Simi Valley Police Department personnel will be better able to identify possible suspects and bring them to justice.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The Simi Valley Police Department is dedicated to finding new and innovative ways to partner with local residents and business owners. By completing a registration form and submitting it to the Simi Valley Police Department your camera information will be entered into a database that is maintained by the police department. When a crime, traffic collision or other law enforcement related event occurs, officers will be able to quickly access the SAFECAM database, identify businesses and residences in the area that have security cameras, contact the owners of the camera and request footage which may help to identify suspects and assist with the apprehension and prosecution of those involved.

Information provided to the Simi Valley Police Department regarding camera systems will be for official use only. All personal information will be confidential and not for public dissemination.

HOW YOU CAN BE A PART OF SAFECAM

If your residence or business has a security camera system you can help the Simi Valley Police Department investigate and solve crimes by registering your camera in one of three ways:

• Go to www.simivalley.org/safecam to complete the on-line SAFECAM registration form. Then press the “submit” button at the bottom of the page.

• Print out the SAFECAM registration form from www.simivalley.org/safecam, complete it, and drop it off at the Simi Valley Police Department’s front counter or mail it to the Simi Valley Police Department Communication Center at 3901 Alamo Street, Simi Valley, CA 93063.

• Or, contact the Simi Valley Police Department’s Crime Prevention Representative, Jean-Marie Maroshek at (805) 583-6276 to help complete your registration over the phone.

The Simi Valley Police Department recognizes that they cannot prevent or solve crime by itself. The police department has had a long standing relationship with the community and SAFECAM is another way for the police and community to work together to help keep Simi Valley safe. There are more ways that you can be a part of keeping Simi Valley safe:

• Neighborhood Watch
• Next Door (electronic Neighborhood Watch)
• Business Watch
• Citizens on Patrol (Volunteer Program)

For additional information on all of the Crime Prevention Programs that the Simi Valley Police Department offers, call (805) 583-6276

Another local city with a video camera registration program is Ventura. Learn more at www.cityofventura.net/securitycameras.

Grand Opening of the Mel Vincent Park in Camarillo Slated for February

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The Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District announce it will be hosting a grand opening of Mel Vincent Park, 668 Calistoga Road, Camarillo on Saturday, February 4th. (If raining, it will be postponed to February 18th.)

The park is located in a new housing development off of Springville Road. The five acre park features state of the art outdoor fitness equipment, two playgrounds, four 1/2 court basketball courts, two sand volleyball courts, picnic tables and shelter and a meandering concrete path.

For a satellite view of the park layout in a pdf file, visit www.pvrpd.org/documents/LabeledSateliteView.pdf.

Habit Burger Slated for Former Famous Dave's Site in Thousand Oaks

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Update 1/11/17: The Habit has noted the following on its Facebook page:

Get a sneak peek of The Habit before we officially open. Check out our schedule below. We are located at 3980 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. See you there! #MakeItAHabit

Saturday, 1/14: Free Burger Day | The first 200 guests in line at 11:30am and again at 5pm will receive a free award-winning Charburger, fries, and a drink on us!

Sunday, 1/15: Free Habit Day | The first 200 guests in line at 11:30am will receive a delicious chargrilled meal from one of our preset menus.

Sunday, 1/15 from 5-7pm: Fundraising event for Westlake High School. 100% of our sales will go back to this organization. This event is open to all!

Monday, 1/16: Free Habit Day | The first 200 guests in line at 10:30am will receive a delicious chargrilled meal from one of our preset menus.

Posted 10/8/16: Famous Dave's Thousand Oaks closed its doors nearly two years ago. The building is currently undergoing construction to subdivide the building into 3 units to accommodate new restaurant use and to allow for outdoor dining areas.

The first new tenant slated to occupy the space is The Habit Burger Grill, joining other Habit Burger locations in Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Agoura Hills, Camarillo, Simi Valley (2), Ventura (2) and Oxnard. Timing TBA. www.habitburger.com

County of Ventura Food Facility Closures in December 2016

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The County of Ventura Environmental Health Division (EHD) protects public health and the environment by ensuring conformance with State laws and County ordinances pertaining to food protection, hazardous materials, hazardous waste, individual sewage disposal systems, land use, medical waste, ocean water quality monitoring, recreational health, solid waste, underground fuel tanks and vector control.

The EHD publishes food facility closures at www.ventura.org/rma/envhealth/community-services/consumer-food/closures.html.

The following facility closures were noted in December 2016. Keep in mind when reviewing this that there are many possible reasons for the closures, most of which are very temporary issues.

December 2016

Ventura Valero (food sales only), 11005 Citrus Drive, Ventura;

Rodent infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 12/29/16; Date reopened - 12/30/16

Taco Bell, 201 W. Channel Islands Blvd., Oxnard;

Sewage overflowing outside the facility, plumbing inoperable;

Date closed - 12/27/16; Date reopened - 12/27/16

Downtown Express, 512 S. Oxnard Blvd., Oxnard;

Unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 12/22/16; Date reopened - 12/30/16

Coconut Crab, 1555 Simi Town Center Way, #770, Simi Valley;

Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 12/20/16; Date reopened - 12/21/16

Exotic Thai, 2705 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks;

Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 12/19/16; Date reopened - 12/21/16

Golden China, 760 S. Seaward Avenue, Ventura;

No means to wash hands in food preparation area due to inoperable plumbing;

Date closed - 12/19/16; Date reopened - 12/20/16

S & S Liquors, 2760 Tapo Canyon Road, #2, Simi Valley;

Rodent infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 12/15/16; No reopen date

Carniceria El Rodeo, 2151 E. Channel Islands, Oxnard;

Inoperable refrigeration resulting in unsafe food temperatures, sewage overflowing inside the facility, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 12/15/16; Date reopened - 12/16/16

Elkins Ranch Snack Bar, 1386 Chambersburg Road, Fillmore;

Rodent infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 12/14/16; Date reopened - 12/15/16

Popeye's Chicken, 520 E. Los Angeles Avenue, Moorpark;

Inoperable plumbing resulting in sewage overflowing onto the floor and utensil sink not available for use;

Date closed - 12/13/16; Date reopened - 12/15/16

Pho Oxnard, 722 N. Ventura Rd., Oxnard;

Sewage overflowing inside the facility, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 12/13/16; Date reopened - 12/14/16

Amigo's Family Restaurant, 2831 E. Vineyard Avenue, Oxnard;

Rodent infestation, unsanitary conditions, inoperable hand wash sinks, inoperable refrigeration;

Date closed - 12/12/16; Date reopened - 12/13/16

Moose Lodge #2097, 700 E. Santa Barbara Street, Santa Paula;

Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 12/12/16; Date reopened - 12/15/16

El Centro 1-2-3, 943 E Main Street, Santa Paula;
No hot water for utensil cleaning or hand washing;
Date closed - 12/09/16; Date reopened - 12/12/16

Puerto Vallarta Seafood Restaurant, 3021 Saviers Rd., Oxnard;
Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions, inoperable equipment;
Date closed - 12/08/16; Date reopened - 12/09/16

Asadero Mexicali, Mobile Food Facilitiy (license plate #4KJ6537);
No water for hand washing or utensil cleaning;
Date closed - 12/08/16; Date reopened - 12/09/16

Winners Pizza, 605 E. Los Angeles Avenue, Simi Valley;

No hot water available for handwashing or utensil washing.

Date closed - 12/07/16; Date reopened - 12/08/16

Hummus Brothers, 382 W. Hillcrest Drive, #FC-5, Thousand Oaks;

Inoperable refrigeration resulting in unsafe food temperatures;

Date closed - 12/07/16; Date reopened - 12/08/16

Dickey's BBQ Pit, 6100 Telegraph Road, Ventura;

Inoperable plumbing resulting in inability to adequately wash hands or utensils;

Date closed - 12/01/16; Date reopened - 12/02/16

RELM Wine & Beer Bistro in Camarillo Opened in December (now Onyx Bistro)

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UPDATE: RELM was sold to a new owner and re-opened as Onyx Bistro in January 2022. See www.facebook.com/OnyxBistroCamarillo for more information.

Located in the Camarillo Village Square at the corner of Arneill Road and Las Posas Road, RELM Wine & Food Bistro opened its doors last month. 

RELM (Relax, Enjoy, Laugh More) serves 12 wines by the glass, 8 local draft beers and a variety of small plated items like prosciutto and goat cheese rolls, caprese, sliders, baked brie, flatbreads and more. Also offers live music at 7 pm on Friday/Saturday nights.