ALDI Thousand Oaks to Open in December (December 14th)

Follow-up 12/14/20: ALDI Thousand Oaks is now open.

The ALDI U.S. website indicates the ALDI Thousand Oaks store at Janss Marketplace will be opening its doors on Monday, December 14, 2020. However, there were no signs at the store confirming that specific date, nor would ALDI U.S. confirm the date that has been displayed on their website for the last week.

What I can tell you is that store certainly looks ready to open on the 14th! The shopping carts are in place in front of the store and the shelves appear fully stocked.

So….if you’d like to be one of the first ones into the store, 9am tomorrow (Monday) morning may be it. Or maybe not. But the actual date is quite soon.

Several folks have asked what ALDI is. ALDI is retail grocery chain, with over 2,000 stores in 37 states. The German chain anticipates becoming the third-largest grocery retailer by store count in the U.S. by the end of 2022.

www.aldi.us

Salsa & Beer Authentic Mexican Food From Jerez Zacatecas Coming Soon to Calabasas

December 2024 Update: No updates since January. We are now at 4 years since the original announcement. Patience is a virtue :)

January 2024 Update: The signs are long gone since this original post in December 2020 but the Mayor of Calabasas indicated in January 2024 that building permits have been pulled for this anticipated new eatery. www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=769359395225750&set=a.547916184036740

The yellow signs are up at 4895 Las Virgenes Road in Calabasas. Salsa & Beer Mexican Grill Family Restaurant from Jerez Zacatecas is coming soon to the former Coco’s location visible from the 101 south.

With locations in North Hollywood and Van Nuys/Lake Balboa, Salsa & Beer offers authentic Mexican food from the town of Jerez, located in the Mexican state of Zacatecas.

The municipality of Jerez was founded in 1569 and its official name is Jerez de Garcia Salinas in honor of local politician Francisco Garcia Salinas in 1952. The original founders of Jerez came from Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.

Back to the restaurant itself…the menu includes traditional Mexican combination plates, fajitas, sizzling spicy Molcajete dishes, Spicy Zacatecas Carnitas, Tampiquena Chicken, Carne Asada Encebollada Charbroiled Steak, their “famous” tortas and much more.

Don’t know the timing as of yet, but the signs are certainly up.

More info at www.salsaandbeernorthhollywood.com.

Lucky's Steakhouse Now Open at Malibu Country Mart

Lucky’s Steakhouse opened earlier this week at Malibu Country Mart, 3835 Cross Creek Road in Malibu, in the former home of Mr. Chow, offering up steaks, chops, seafood and cocktails. Learn more at www.luckysmalibu.com.

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Islands Restaurant Simi Valley Has Closed Its Doors

We’ve heard from several Simi Valley folks that the Islands Simi Valley has closed its doors. The signs are down, the location is no longer listed on the Islands website (Agoura Hills and Newbury Park are still there) and the phone is no longer in service. Sorry to hear the news.

Islands was established in West Los Angeles in 1982. In 2001, there were 31 Islands locations, including 27 in California and 4 in Arizona. Today there are around 45 California locations and 2 in Arizona. www.islandsrestaurants.com

Regional Stay Home Order Goes Into Effect Sunday, December 6th for at Least Three Weeks in Southern California, Including Ventura County

State’s Stay Home Order Triggered in Southern California Region, Effective December 6, Midnight

The State of California’s Stay Home Order will go into effect on Sunday, December 6 at midnight in Ventura County and in all Counties in Southern California, after the Southern California Region's hospital ICU capacity dropped below 15%. The order closes many businesses and activities and urges people to stay at home whenever possible.

The California Department of Public Health reported on Friday evening that Southern California's ICU capacity dropped to 13.1%, triggering the Stay Home Order.

The order requires bars, wineries, nail salons, hair salons and barbershops, and other personal care services to close. Private gatherings of any size are prohibited. Restaurants can stay open for takeout and delivery, but they have to shut down both indoor and outdoor dining.

The Southern California Region Ventura County was placed in has, by itself, more than half the State’s total population. The region includes 11 counties. The County is urging the Governor to consider smaller, more targeted regions. The County, along with 58 Counties throughout the State, are also urging the Governor to consider additional, immediate assistance for impacted workers, families and businesses. The County of Ventura will continue to advocate and engage with the State on behalf of our County on a regular basis.

Schools opened while Ventura County was in the purple tier can stay open. K-6 schools that were given a waiver to reopen will be allowed to stay open. Retail stores will be allowed to stay open at 20% capacity.

Additionally, all non-essential travel is temporarily restricted statewide. Hotels and motels are now restricted to guests traveling for an essential reason.

Ventura County and all Counties in the Southern California Region are required by the State to stay under the lockdown for at least three weeks. After that, state health officials will evaluate ICU capacity and transmission rates to project at least four weeks into the future to determine if the stay home order can be lifted.

All Ventura County residents are further urged to help slow the spread by wearing a mask, social distancing and not gathering during this critical time. “Given the significant increase we have been experiencing in our county with COVID-19 with cases, test positivity, and hospitalizations, this order is the only remaining measure to flatten the curve as soon as possible,” said Rigoberto Vargas, Ventura County Public Health Director.

“Since it will take several weeks for these additional restrictions to slow in particular the very concerning rising hospitalizations, collectively and as the strong community that Ventura County is known for, I urge every resident and sector to support the measure in this order so that we can once and for all, given also the upcoming COVID-19 vaccine, get this virus under control. We will then be able to return to the path toward fully opening our business, schools and other sectors,” added Vargas.

The following activities and sectors must close by midnight on Sunday, December 6:

• Indoor and outdoor playgrounds

• Indoor recreational facilities

• Hair salons and barbershops

• Personal care services

• Museums, zoos, and aquariums

• Movie theaters

• Wineries

• Bars, breweries and distilleries

• Family entertainment centers

• Cardrooms and satellite wagering

• Limited services

• Live audience sports

• Amusement parks

Other sectors that will be allowed to stay open when operating remotely is not possible include:

• Critical Infrastructure

• Schools that are already open for in-person learning

• Non-urgent medical and dental care

• Childcare and pre-K

The following sectors will have additional modifications in addition to 100% masking and physical distancing:

• Outdoor recreational facilities: Allow outdoor operation only without any food, drink or alcohol sales. Additionally, overnight stays at campgrounds will not be permitted.

• Retail: Allow indoor operation at 20% capacity with entrance metering and no eating or drinking in the stores. Additionally, special hours should be instituted for seniors and others with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.

• Shopping centers: Allow indoor operation at 20% capacity with entrance metering and no eating or drinking in the stores. Additionally, special hours should be instituted for seniors and others with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.

• Hotels and lodging: Allow to open for critical infrastructure support only.

• Restaurants: Allow only for take-out, pick-up, or delivery. No indoor or outdoor dining.

• Offices: Allow remote only except for critical infrastructure sectors where remote working is not possible.

• Places of worship and political expression: Allow outdoor services only.

• Entertainment production including professional sports: Allow operation without live audiences. Additionally, testing protocol and “bubbles” are highly encouraged.

More information about the Stay Home Order can be found at: covid19.ca.gov/stay-home-except-for-essential-needs. Local information at www.venturacountyrecovers.org.

vcportal.ventura.org/covid19/docs/2020-12-05_Stay_Home_Order_Triggered_in_Ventura_County_and_So_Cal_Region.pdf

Regional Stay Home Order Announced Today Goes Into Effect When ICU Availability Drops Below 15%

Today the Governor announced a Regional Stay Home Order, it will go into effect within 48 hours in regions with less than 15% ICU availability. It prohibits private gatherings of any size, closes sector operations except for critical infrastructure and retail, and requires 100% masking and physical distancing in all others.

The order will remain in effect for at least 3 weeks and, after that period, will be lifted when a region’s projected ICU capacity meets or exceeds 15%. This will be assessed on a weekly basis after the initial 3-week period. Learn more about this order.

The State projects the Southern California Region, including Ventura County, to fall below 15% capacity as soon as tomorrow, and likely within a week.

When a region is placed under an order, these sectors will be closed:

• Indoor and outdoor playgrounds

• Indoor recreational facilities

• Hair salons and barbershops

• Personal care services

• Museums, zoos, and aquariums

• Movie theaters

• Wineries

• Bars, breweries, and distilleries

• Family entertainment centers

• Cardrooms and satellite wagering

• Limited services

• Live audience sports

• Amusement parks

The following sectors will have additional modifications in addition to 100% masking and physical distancing:

Outdoor recreational facilities: Allow outdoor operation only without any food, drink or alcohol sales. Additionally, overnight stays at campgrounds will not be permitted.

Retail: Allow indoor operation at 20% capacity with entrance metering and no eating or drinking in the stores. Additionally, special hours should be instituted for seniors and others with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.

Shopping centers: Allow indoor operation at 20% capacity with entrance metering and no eating or drinking in the stores. Additionally, special hours should be instituted for seniors and others with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems.

Hotels and lodging: Allow to open for critical infrastructure support only.

Restaurants: Allow only for take-out, pick-up, or delivery. No indoor or outdoor dining.

Offices: Allow remote only except for critical infrastructure sectors where remote working is not possible.

Places of worship and political expression: Allow outdoor services only.

Entertainment production including professional sports: Allow operation without live audiences. Additionally, testing protocol and “bubbles” are highly encouraged.

The following sectors are allowed to remain open when a remote option is not possible with appropriate infectious disease preventative measures including 100% masking and physical distancing:

• Critical infrastructure

• Schools that are already open for in-person learning

• Non-urgent medical and dental care

• Child care and pre-K

The State could make the announcement of the Stay At Home Order being implemented in our County as soon as tomorrow.

Read more about the State orders at: covid19.ca.gov/stay-home-except-for-essential-needs

This is a critical time to work together to slow the spread. Community members are encouraged to wear masks, social distance, wash hands frequently and not gather.

Once we learn of the State's decision for our region information will be posted. Until then businesses can still operate under the guidance in the purple tier.

Siblings Bakery Coming Soon to Thousand Oaks (NOW OPEN)

UPDATE: Siblings Bakery opened on January 14th

Siblings Bakery will be opening a location at 1625 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks in the former home of Jaime Cakes.

Siblings Bakery has an existing location in Ventura that makes custom birthday cakes, wedding cakes, specialty cakes and more.

This new location will continue the custom work as well as sell retail goodies at the store. Deepti, the owner, anticipates opening sometime in December. Learn more at www.siblingsbakery.com.

Currying Flavors in Agoura Hills Recently Closed Its Doors

Currying Flavors, which opened at The Shops at Oak Creek in Agoura Hills in August 2019, recently closed its doors. I personally enjoyed the food here, but the concept didn’t really seem to take off in 2019, then COVID undoubtedly had some impact on this Los Angeles County based business.