Eight Park Renovations by the Conejo Recreation and Park District in 2023

Conejo Creek North Park (next to the T.O. Library) is the last of eight parks that have gone, or are going through, renovations by the Conejo Recreation and Park District in 2023. The other seven park renovations that have been completed this year are at Newbury Gateway Park, Russell Park, Wildflower Playfield, Dos Vientos Community Park, Banyan Park, Sycamore Neighborhood Park, and Suburbia Park.

More information about 51 parks and other recreational programs overseen by CRPD at crpd.org.

IHOP Newbury Park to Close Its Doors on Sunday, November 19th

A sign on the door of IHOP Newbury Park, 2315 Michael Drive, indicates the location will be closing permanently on November 19th at 3 p.m. The remaining IHOP in the Conejo Valley is the 24 hour location at 5031 Kanan Road in Agoura Hills. www.ihop.com

Prior to IHOP, this location was Astro Family Restaurant until the early 1990s time frame. Prior to that it was a Sambo’s Restaurant, which opened in November 1977.

Astro Family Restaurant in the 1990 time frame.

Sambo’s Restaurant opened in the Fall of 1977.

Urbane Cafe To Open 2nd Ventura Location on November 30th

The popular Urbane Cafe will be opening a 2nd location on Thursday, November 30th in the city of Ventura soon at 811 E. Thompson Blvd. (cross street S. Ash), directly across the street from Spencer Makenzie’s.

Urbane Cafe has been offering delicious salads and sandwiches with its made from scratch Focaccia bread since 2003. A true local Ventura County success story, the eatery has grown to several dozen locations in California and Nevada, including locations in Ventura (soon to be two), Agoura Hills, Thousand Oaks, Camarillo and Simi Valley.

Learn more at urbanecafe.com

The Los Angeles Rams to Move Practice Facility to Woodland Hills in 2024

Source: Los Angeles Rams

As anticipated, the Los Angeles Rams today announced that they will be moving to their new regular season practice facility in Woodland Hills in 2024. The facility will be located at the corner of West Oxnard Street and Canoga Avenue, part of 100 acres acquired by the owner of the Rams in 2022.

Cal Lutheran has provided temporary practice facilities to the Rams since their move to Los Angeles in 2016. It’s been a great ride hosting the team here in the Conejo Valley for the last seven years.

" Over the next few months, the Rams will set up a facility on this land consisting of modular trailers that will include office space and meeting rooms for coaches, players, scouts and staff, a weight room and training room, locker room, media room, and meal room. Adjacent to the trailers will be two football fields where the team will train and practice.

This is the first step of Kroenke's long-term vision for the land, which is part of the tremendous development envisioned for Woodland Hills under the Warner Center 2035 plan. Once the practice facility is set up, the organization will begin exploring a larger development that will include the permanent headquarters and practice facility for the team, as well as a plan to include residential, commercial, and retail uses along with green spaces and other community-serving amenities."

More information at www.therams.com.

JOiBIRDS Cafe Now Open in Thousand Oaks (Closed 10/6/24)

JOiBIRDS Cafe has closed its doors as of close of business on October 6, 2024. However, they will continue focusing on their original location, JOi Cafe, at the Westlake Commons, 2855 Agoura Road in Westlake Village.

JOiBIRDS Cafe is now open at Santal Thousand Oaks at 299 Thousand Oaks Blvd (across the street from Tarantula Hill Brewing Company). Open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. www.instagram.com/joibirdscafe

The Kebab Shop Westlake Village is Now Open

The Kebab Shop has been open for about five days now in the Northgate Plaza at the southwest corner of Thousand Oaks and Westlake Boulevards (in the former Blaze Pizza location). Their menu includes wraps, kebabs, combinations and more. More info at thekebabshop.com.

I tried it this weekend and it was good! They offer Kids Eat Free deals every Saturday/Sunday - one free kids’ box for every wrap, box, or plate and fountain drink purchased at regular price. In store only.

Status of Planned Homewood Suites & Home2 Suites Hotel at Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks

This is a rendering of the new hotel that was included in the Planning Commission meeting agenda on October 23rd. This is a view from the courtyard fountain near Buca Di Peppo and Sharky's.

There are plans in the works for a 5-story, 216 room Homewood Suites & Home2 Suites Hotel at Janss Marketplace that will be situated in the space previously occupied by Marshall's (until 2017) and dental offices (until 2019) and currently used for the Reign of Terror Haunted House.

Irvine-based Greens Development will develop and operate the hotel. There will be 173 rooms with king beds and 43 rooms with double-queen beds. Each suite will have a full kitchen. There will be 13,000 sq ft of retail space on the bottom floor. The 2nd floor will have an outdoor pool, deck and planter area.

On October 23rd, city staff and the Planning Commission recommended that the City Council approve a zoning change from 35 feet to 75 feet for the hotel. Several other structures at Janss have received zoning changes in the past, including the former Burlington (44'), Regal Cinemas (40.5') and parking structure (47' 9"). Other tenants at Janss have given a thumbs up for this development.

If the zoning overlay is approved, construction is anticipated to begin next spring with a target opening date of winter 2025. The last new hotel in Thousand Oaks opened in 2009 (Hampton Inn).

View of front of hotel, across from the parking structure in another rendering from developers.

Plata Taqueria & Cantina to Open Location at The Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks (Grand Opening 8/24/24)

UPDATE: Plata Cocina Mexican grand opening is Saturday, August 24, 2024 for dinner service at 4pm. See THIS LINK for more information.

The Oaks shopping mall website is providing a glimpse into the future of the former Red Robin Gourmet Burgers that closed during the pandemic, well over two years ago. The popular Plata Taqueria & Cantina has operated at the Whizin Market Square in Agoura Hills since 2015, offering Mexican specialties made from scratch daily. Stay tuned for more details on the timing of this location at The Oaks. (No other details at this time.) Learn more about Plata at www.platacantina.com.