The Stand is Coming Soon to the Former Home of Pitfire Pizza in Westlake Village (NOW OPEN)

UPDATE 2/15/22: The Stand Westlake Village opened today.

We got the scoop from Shannon A today that The Stand is “opening soon” at what used to be Pitfire Artisan Pizza at the Westlake Plaza, 980 South Westlake Boulevard in Westlake Village.

The Stand is a popular, growing chain of fast-casual eateries offering traditional American foods - burgers, sandwiches (they call them Standwiches), hot dogs and salads - with non-traditional flavor combinations.

This will be the first Ventura County location of The Stand, as the Westlake Plaza lies firmly in the section of Westlake Village that is part of Thousand Oaks in Ventura County (as opposed to the City of Westlake Village, which is part of Los Angeles County. (Yes, this is confusing, but EXPLAINED HERE.)

Learn more about The Stand at www.thestand.com.

Pitfire Pizza closed at the beginning of the pandemic. It opened its doors on August 2, 2015.

STACKED Thousand Oaks Announced Tonight That It Is Permanently Closed

STACKED Thousand Oaks announced tonight that it will not be reopening after an 18 month closure. Torrance and Cerritos locations also closed permanently. Stacked San Diego will be reopening.

After 18 months, some still held out hope that STACKED at The Oaks mall would be back some day. We now have closure on the matter.

STACKED Thousand Oaks opened on March 20, 2013 across from the Cheesecake Factory at The Oaks. The previous occupant of that space was Buddha’s Belly for about 11 months, and before that, Sisley Italian Kitchen.

Bada Sushi Thousand Oaks Closed in Mid-2015

Bada Sushi was located at 105 Brazil Street in Thousand Oaks, a block east from Moorpark Road and across the road from Janss Marketplace. It closed its doors in mid-2015.

The building is still vacant and looking a bit run down as of October 2021, some six years later. This is a 4,889 square foot freestanding retail building with 45 parking spaces on a .68 acre lot. What’s next? We shall see.

Azuki Boba & Tea Now Open at the North Ranch Mall in Thousand Oaks

Azuki Boba & Tea “soft opened” today at the North Ranch Mall (you know….the Trader’s Joe’s/Ralph’s/Petco mall) in Thousand Oaks at the northwest corner of Westlake and Thousand Oaks Boulevards in Thousand Oaks. Soft opening is September 26-30, during which drinks are half price! They are adding new drinks each day: Day 1 Classic Milk Teas, Day 2 Galaxy Series, Day 3 Fruit Lovers, Day 4 Matcha & Latte and Day 5 House Specials.

Their Instagram page is @azukibobatea.

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Selvin's Restaurant & Lounge Coming in 2024 to the Palm Garden Hotel in Newbury Park

UPDATE 9/24/23: Selvin’s will be opening in 2024 - likely mid-June. JUNE 21ST Learn more at www.selvins.com.

UPDATE: Since this post in September 2021, the name of the eatery will now be called Selvin’s Restaurant & Lounge and is anticipated to open in early 2023. Visit selvins.com for updates.

Encore Kitchen & Bar is in process of being constructed in the former Brendan’s Pub at the Palm Garden Hotel in Newbury Park. Timing is TBA, though the hotel indicates sometime in 2021 at www.palmgardenhotel.com/dining. Encore will be serving California cuisine. Stay tuned…

National Park Service Urges Pet Owners to Rethink Hiking with Animals in the Summer Heat

The National Park Service (NPS) is urging pet owners to think twice before hiking with animals after at least three dogs have died on local trails since July of this year.The National Park Service (NPS) is urging pet owners to think twice before hiking with animals after at least three dogs have died on local trails since July of this year.

“Keeping canine companions safe during a hike requires planning and a heavy dose of realism,” said Ken Low, a National Park Service ranger at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. “Hikers need to ask themselves, is my dog’s physical conditioning and age appropriate for this outing? If I decide to take them, am I leaving early enough and do I have enough water?"

The National Park Service and local search and rescue teams in Los Angeles and Ventura County together have reported about a half dozen canine rescues in 2021. Most of the dogs were suffering from a heat illness. Some did not have enough water.

"Wait for cooler weather before heading out on a hike with your four-legged friends," Low said. “We helped rescue two dogs from the Sandstone Peak area in the western part of our mountains on a recent weekend and it was over 90 degrees. People don’t realize that dogs can succumb to heatstroke in just 15 minutes.”

Hikers can check with their veterinarian to learn what their dog can handle. Some dog breeds make better hiking partners than others. The dog should also be evaluated to see if they are fit enough for the hike.

Young and old dogs might not be capable of keeping up on long, challenging hikes, and the burden on growing bones may be too much for puppies. Hiking in overly hot weather should be avoided, as dogs are more susceptible than humans to the dangers of excessive heat.

It's also essential that you take water for your dog. Dogs don't sweat the way humans do. Panting is their primary method for keeping cool, putting them at a higher risk of overheating than you when on the trail.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) is the largest urban national park in the country, encompassing more than 150,000 acres of mountains and coastline in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. A unit of the National Park Service, it comprises a seamless network of local, state, and federal parks interwoven with private lands and communities. As one of only five Mediterranean ecosystems in the world, SMMNRA preserves the rich biological diversity of more than 450 animal species and 26 distinct plant communities. For more information, visit nps.gov/samo.

Grand Opening of Chakaa Tea Cafe in Newbury Park on Saturday, September 4th

Grand "soft opening" of Chakaa Tea Cafe in Newbury Park (Ventu Park in the Walmart/Walgreens center) took place on Saturday, September 4th at 2pm. They offer various teas...green tea. oolong tea, fruit tea, milk tea, boba tea, etc. Buy one, get one free during the soft opening says the sign.

Address: 520 N. Ventu Park Road, Suite 140.

The Disney Store at The Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks to Close on or Before September 15th

The Disney Store at The Oaks mall in Thousand Oaks will be closing by September 15th. Disney will be closing a number of its stores through year-end as it focuses on ecommerce and focuses on its Disney stores at Target stores.