Local Buzz covers new businesses, restaurants, closures, local politics, goings on around town and other buzzworthy items in the Conejo Valley and Greater Ventura County. Have a lead? Contact us. Click here for an archive of Local Buzz postings.
Local Buzz covers new restaurants, closures, local politics, goings on around town and other buzzworthy items in the Conejo Valley and Greater Ventura County. Have a lead? Contact us. Click here for an archive of Local Buzz postings.
Post other items directly to the Community Announcements section of the site.
Urban Pizza, one of the many newer "design your own" pizza places* that have opened in the Conejo Valley in recent years, has closed its doors. This local eatery near Trader Joe's in the North Ranch Mall originally opened in April 2015. The Simi Valley location has also closed its doors.
* Lot and lots of new pizza places in recent years...Pieology, MOD Pizza, PizzaRev, Pitfire Pizza, Blaze Pizza. Battle of the make your own pizzas!
Looking quite empty today in this former Dickey's BBQ Pit location in WLV.
Dickey's BBQ Pit locations in Westlake Village and Simi Valley have closed their doors, leaving us with just one Ventura County location - the original one in Ventura. The Westlake Village location originally opened in July 2015. The Simi Valley location originally opened in January 2014.
Jennifer Brecker was looking forward to dining at The Natural Cafe in Newbury Park today, only to find that it was closed. And closed it is indeed, about a week or so ago at 1714 Newbury Road, as confirmed by a call to the still open Westlake Village location and as evidenced by its absence from The Natural Cafe website at thenaturalcafe.com/locations. Sorry to see this local eatery closed.
The Staples store in Newbury Park (between Home Depot and Target) is closing its doors on September 16, 2017. The nearest Staples stores to this one are in Camarillo, Westlake Village and Oxnard. www.staples.com
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 (exclusive of mobile facilities) were noted in August 2017. Keep in mind when reviewing this that there are many possible reasons for the closures, most of which are very temporary issues.
Corner Pocket 7th & A St Billiards, 658 S. A Street, Oxnard;
Rodent infestation; unsanitary conditions;
Date closed - 08/31/17; Date reopened - 09/01/17
The Galloping Hen, 305 Borchard Dr., Ventura;
Sewage overflowing inside the facility;
Date closed - 08/28/17; Date reopened - 08/28/17
Ranchero Restaurant, 131 W. 2nd Street, Oxnard;
Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions;
Date closed - 08/24/17; No reopen date
Barrera's Restaurant & Bakery, 644 S. C Street, Oxnard;
Equipment is inoperable resulting in food temperature violations, unsanitary conditions;
Date closed - 08/21/17; Date reopened - 08/23/17
Ameci's Pizza, 151 Ventura Street, Suite A, Fillmore;
Sewage overflowing outside of the facility; not able to use sinks in order to not generate more wastewater and prevent further sewage discharge;
Date closed - 08/21/17; Date reopened - 08/22/17
Veggie Grill, 3825 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks;
Inoperable refrigeration resulting in unsafe food temperatures;
Date closed - 08/18/17; Date reopened - 08/21/17
Happy Place Pizza, 1255 Saviers Rd., Oxnard;
No valid permit to operate;
Date closed - 08/18/17; No reopen date
Chinaland, 543 S. Ventura Rd., Oxnard;
No water available for hand and utensil washing;
Date closed - 08/17/17; Date reopened - 08/17/17
Big Z, 2428 Stearns Street, Simi Valley;
Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions;
Date closed - 08/17/17; Date reopened - 08/25/17
La Central Bakery, 600 Meta St., Oxnard;
Rodent and cockroach infestation resulting in unsanitary conditions;
Date closed - 08/16/17; Date reopened - 08/17/17
El Dorado Mexican Restaurant, 601 S. Oxnard Blvd., Oxnard;
Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions;
Date closed - 08/15/17; Date reopened - 08/16/17
Casa de Lago, 715 E. Ojai Avenue, Ojai;
Sewage overflowing outside the facility;
Date closed - 08/11/17; Date reopened - 08/14/17
Lombardo's Deli & Meats, 695 Mobile Ave., Camarillo;
Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions;
Date closed - 08/10/17; Date reopened - 08/11/17
Tillie's Hot Dog's & Snacks, 921 Richmond Ave., Oxnard;
Operating beyound the permit limitation;
Date closed - 08/05/17; Date reopened - 08/07/17
Saigon Express, 437 S. C St., Oxnard;
Operating without a valid permit to operate, no plans submitted for changes in menu and equipment;
Date closed - 08/02/17; Date reopened - 08/04/17
The Apple Store at the Simi Valley Town Center, which has been in operation for 10 years, has announced that it will be closing its doors at the close of business on Friday, September 15th.
As a result, Ventura County will be back down to one Apple store. The Apple Store at The Oaks Mall was expanded and remodeled in 2016.
The Apple Store at the Topanga Plaza in Canoga Park has been closed for renovations and will re-open on Saturday, September 16th at 10am according to Apple at www.apple.com/retail/topanga.
The former Albertson's and short-lived Haggen Grocery store at the Oakbrook Plaza, at 1736 E. Avenida De Los Arboles, Thousand Oaks is in its final stages of transformation into Gelson's. Planned grand opening data is Friday, September 22, 2017.
There will be a ribbon cutting at 9 am and the first 50 customers will receive a gift bag valued at $20. The first 25 customers to purchase items the next six days will also receive $20 gift bags.
According to Gelson's:
The Gelson’s Thousand Oaks store features an emphasis on fresh, great-tasting food across a broad spectrum, including grass-fed beef, organic and non-GMO items, local products, and vegan, vegetarian and raw food options. The full-service deli will offer signature creations along with healthful and delicious salads from Gelson’s Registered Dietitian, for the benefit of Thousand Oaks residents, employees and visitors alike. Gelson’s Thousand Oaks will include a carving station (selected hours), gourmet cheese section, olive cart, soup and salad bar, hot food bar, fresh sushi and poke bar, kosher foods and bakery, along with a coffee bar, dining area, floral department, custom and ready-made gift baskets, and free gift wrapping. In addition, Gelson’s is excited to bring an in-store pharmacy department to the Thousand Oaks community.
Learn more at gelsons.com.
Gelson's bought this former Haggen location nearly two years ago.
No word yet on timing but Tuesday Morning looks to be "coming soon" to the Conejo Valley Plaza, in the space next to the Marshalls store (formerly Sport Chalet space).
This is going to make some people happy who enjoyed shopping at the small Tuesday Morning store at Janss Marketplace until it closed on June 30, 2012.
Did you know...Tuesday Morning Corporation is a publicly-traded company listed on NASDAQ under symbol TUES. Tuesday Morning "is a leading off-price retailer specializing in selling deeply-discounted, upscale decorative home accessories, housewares, seasonal goods and famous-maker gifts." Based in Dallas, Texas, the Company opened its first store in 1974 and currently operates over 720 stores in 40 states. More information and a list of store locations at www.tuesdaymorning.com.
UPDATE 2/5/18: Now open!
Well this is good news! The spot formerly occupied by Subway in the Newbury Square Shopping Center, near Smart & Final Extra! at 2110-C Newbury Road will soon be the home of The Sandwich Spot. Anticipated grand opening date is in October.
The Sandwich Spot's Simi Valley location at 3060 Cochran Street has earned a very solid 4 1/2 star Yelp rating based on over 350 reviews.
The Sandwich Spot bakes fresh breads from the world famous Boudin Bakery in San Francisco in their stores daily. Offering 24 "Signature" sandwiches as well as basic sandwiches with a variety of meats.
Learn more at www.thesandwichspot.com and stay tuned for the official grand opening date (or let us know if you hear).
Shout out to Steve C. for the heads up!
Conejo Valley Guide covers events, activities and things to do throughout Ventura County and surrounding areas.
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