ojai news at The Ojai Post :: blog, newspaper, events in Ojai, California

Leigh-
I love your effort on this one.
My first thought is a Trader Joes.
Prob abaly not exactly what you had in mind, but that would be a fantasy of mine.
We knowmOjai proper would not go for it, because of the chain-ban.

Also TJ stores have once again been asking customers for their zip codes which usually means they are surveying for another location.
There have been rumors for several years about a location in downtown Ventura.
The Victoria TJ is the largest grossing store in the chain in Southern California, I have heard.
TJ has it's problems, but I would love to see one either at Dahl's or that abandoned building just before the MacDonalds.

Comments?

Ojai Sports is also closed (as of yesterday) and they are looking for a buyer of the business. In the meantime, they have emptied out the place. Anybody want a sporting goods business?

That's the second closure in the building; Iron Pan closed last month.

A Trader Joe's in Oak View might make sense. My sister and her large family do most of their grocery shopping there, even though I nag her to shop local and figure in the price of gas, wear and tear on the car, plus her time driving to Ventura.

It's well-known that neighborhood grocery stores are key to reducing traffic. If Ojaians are already driving to Ventura for Trader Joe, it might not have much impact on business at Rainbow Bridge and Farmer & the Cook.

Just thinking out loud...

Hey everyone:

There was much excitement about Trader Joe's as a possibility the last time around (in addition to the Red Barn Liquor threat) -- I heard two local legends as to why that didn't happen. First was that Mr. Dahl wanted a real butcher counter, which TJ's doesn't do -- but I don't think he's still living, so I don't think that would necessarily be an issue at this point. (The butcher shop that's in there now is one of the good things about the store -- it's the guy from Meiner's Oaks, and he has good quality meats.)

Second, and this could be more of an issue, was that I heard mumblings that the population base isn't big enough here for a TJ's.

Don't know if either are true -- personally, I wouldn't be averse to a TJ's there, at all, as an addict-- though would rather have something locally grown out of principal.

Thanks!
Leigh

How about Whole Foods?

The chain ban does not apply to Oak View. My vote is for either Trader Joe's or Whole Foods. I think either would be quite successful in that location.

I was recently at the Whole Foods in Austin, Texas (where Whole Foods started).
It is by the far the MOST amazing food experience extravaganza I have ever had.
20 stations preparing every kind of cuisine you would want to imagine.

I still favor a TJ

I just had some tires put on at Tire Man so I walked around downtown Oak View a bit.
Man is it butt ugly.
Fred Tire man reminded me there is a "Beautify Oak View" committee somewhere.
I believe he mentioned Barbara Kennedy.
Anyone know how to get a hold of her?
An ugly Oak View keeps our real estate values down- and as a (capitalist pig) property owner I do pay attention to that.
I would love to see and get involved in any projects that would make me more proud to be a dweller in the fine town of Oak View.

A lot of vacancies in Ojai now. Maybe we need a vacancy tax to get the, mostly absentee. landlords to reduce their rents so unique, independent business can make those spaces work.

Oak View could be so cool! I am always amazed at the hidden beauty along the bike trail as it runs through Oak View, and how different it all looks once you leave the main drag.

LETS HEAR IT FOR TRADER JOE IN OAL VIEW

Boo Hiss to all of you who think shopping at Whole Foods or Trader Joes is anything less than feeding the corporate monster. Even people on this site once bragging about Lazy Acres in S.B - it's owned by Albertson's. All of us need to really think about where our dollar goes. Whole Foods CEO/founder John Mackey was on the forefront lobbying in Washington to lower the organic standard. I am so suprised that no one has yet mentioned Lassens. Personally, I would LOVE to see Lassen's take that space. Locally (Ventura County) owned and operated. Even a butcher counter with natural meats! I think I'll dream about that one for awhile.

Hey, El Anonimo:

Yeah, Oak View's main drag is pretty horrific these days. (The rotting liquor store and other buildings are my personal favorite, but at least they're up for sale! And the recent fire at George Ryan's didn't help...) And, as Suza says, it doesn't reflect what the rest of the community is about at all.

Kim Armstrong and the Oak View Civic Council have been working hard to try and get some beautification projects going along 33, but it's been an uphill battle. I know would love any interest/energy/excitement they can get.

You can email the Civic Council at csf(a)oakviewca.org -- they're looking for new members, so it would be a great time to get involved! (And if being a member sounds like too much, but you'd like to connect, please do; they'll take all of the support they can get.)

They have monthly meetings the first Wednesday of every month at 6 pm at the Oak View Community Center (back by the Little League ball fields), and welcome anyone who'd like to attend. (There should be one this coming Wednesday.)

Oak View has had a really amazing group of longtime residents who've worked diligently to keep this place feeling like a real community and not just a bunch of bedrooms. However, I think it's time for the newer residents to really take up the torch -- time for some new energy, new ideas, new vision, and more resources.

If anyone wants to connect with me directly about this, you can email me at leigh(at)imaginalinstitute.com; I'd be delighted to talk in more detail.

Would love to also hear more ideas/opinions about the grocery -- I don't know if we could get Trader Joe's attention or not (from a little surfing it looks like there are lots of communities asking for them to bring a store there), but I'm interested in your opinions. And, I'm wondering, if anybody is willing to share, what your reasoning is for a chain over a locally owned store -- is it prices or something else? I think that would be very interesting to hear.

And I hadn't thought about Lassen's...

Thanks, all!

Best,
Leigh

I believe it was Dennis Rice who told me that the main drag in Oak View used to be lined with beautiful, stately oak trees on either side. When the road was widened, the oak trees were removed. Perhaps he, or others, can weigh in a bit more on the history of Oak View.

I wish that I could tell you more, Tyler. I actually got the story from my Mom who used to sneak up here with my Dad to the old Oaks at Ojai, pre-spa, for occassional getaway weekends. She said that the tree lined winding road to Ojai was part of the magic. It does make sense if you look at all of those bare storefronts. I would love to know the politics of the move. I smell Caltrans in there somewhere. The prior post is right. Get away from the main drag and Oak View lives up to its name.
We could use a Bring the Oaks Back to Oak View movement.

Thanks, Dennis and Tyler;

I love the "Bring the Oaks Back to Oak View" idea! :-)

I've heard similar stories -- and I know that there has been momentum to try and both plant trees along 33 through Oak View (I've heard a couple of different stories as to why that's been difficult) and some conversation, at least locally, about taking the highway back to two lanes here (or more accurately, three -- with a turning lane in the center, like in Mira Monte). I, for one, would love it -- one of the challenges that Oak View faces is that is that highway -- it's so unfriendly to pedestrians, and it bisects the community.

When I was working with the Oak View Park and Resource Center we lobbied to get trolley service down to this end of the valley (unsuccessfully at that point, unfortunately) -- part of the reason for this was to provide safe crossing for people across 33 if they wanted to come to the Center without driving from neighborhoods up on the hill -- right now you are truly taking your life into your own hands if you try to cross that highway anywhere in Oak View.

(Which leads me to another plea -- as you're driving through Oak View, please remember that the speed limit is 35 -- I regularly clock people doing over 50 as I'm driving home -- we've had two accidents in the last week with people moving fast -- one that sent the mail truck into the Rancho Arnaz store at Old Creek Road, and one, just yesterday, in front of the post office.)

There is a lot of history in the divisions between Oak View and Ojai, but I think the time has come to think of the Valley more holistically. It's part of the reason why I'm personally hesitant to think chain stores here -- I would hate to see Oak View become the commercial strip that you drive through to get to Ojai, both as someone who lives in Oak View, and also because I don't think anyone ultimately benefits from that. There is a magic to this entire valley -- it would be so splendid if we could help Oak View's commercial area feel like a legitimate downtown, and part of the experience of the Valley.

I just sent an email to our Neighborhood Watch group here in Oak View, which is a mix of longtime Oak Viewers and relative newcomers -- hopefully they'll bring some additional ideas (and thoughts about Oak View's history!).

There are some cool stories here -- for example, the Oak View Park and Resource Center property became a school because there was such a post WWII housing push, families were living in a tent city on that undeveloped block waiting for my house and others around it to be finished. When the neighborhood was completed around the property, the families doing the developing decided to give it to Oak View for an elementary school. And the school itself was designed by an AIA architect named Maynard Lyndon (his papers are in the collection of the UCSB Art Museum, and his son is a fairly major modern architect who teaches at, I think, Berkeley) with cutting edge green technology for the time -- the Meiner's Oaks school was done by him as well -- designed with north facing walls of windows and south facing high clerestory windows so they would never need artificial light during school hours and there would be cross breezes.

Best,
Leigh

Leigh,

Thanks for notifying readers about the Oak View Web site: www.oakviewca.org. As you may know, we're just starting to re-build it. I recently revitalized it, after the Council had shut it down because no one was volunteering to manage it, and I welcome ideas on making the site the best it can be.

For example, perhaps we can use the site to facilitate design ideas, and political as well as personal connections, for any beautification of Oak View.

I'm happy to post acceptable:

• photos
• pictures,
• drawings,
• sketches, and more, as well as
• histories,
• contacts,
• activities and more.

Anything that may facilitate communications, actions and real results in the improvement efforts would be welcome.

Of course, since the Oak View Civic Council currently owns the domain, that organization has the say in what gets posted. So, the process is that although I am open to receiving things, I have to run them by the Council.

Chris A

#11-
TJ is one "corporate monster" I'll gladly feed.
Even though I don't drink wine, the thought I can get a bottle of $2 decent Chuck makes me oh so happy that that hideous corporate TJs is a short drive away in Ventura.
And yes, I never go to Ventura ONLY to shop at TJs.
it's usually a once every week or 2 stop on an errand day.

btw- I also shop at that monstrously corporate 99cent store.

#16 Chris A

The website is a great start.
I love the Oak View logo- the river and the mountains.
The oak leaf could use a lil tweaking.

But thanks for working on it and bringing us this information

Oh, say it ain't so, El A! >;-) Evil 99 cent items!!!

On a more serious note, thanks, Chris, for sharing the Oak View website address. I'm hoping that we'll get more Oak View residents gathered into the conversation! (And by the way, hope you're thriving -- haven't seen you in a while!)

Tyler, is there a place on the Ojai site network that you have cooking that you might be willing to share a link to this site? It might help Chris get the word out about it.

Thanks and best,
Leigh

eewwwwwww. $2 wine.

This is all well and good but coming first hand from me who managed the Dahl's Mini mall before Mr. Dahl's death knows first hand that Trader Joes was contacted along with a number of San Diego based grocery stores, and a Santa Barbara store. All comments were that the lagistics were not right, too big, too small, not enough people. Right now the sign is gone and until we know for sure that Steven's lease is over and he will no longer be there I think we should support his business and offer some form of constructive critism. In answer to question about beautification team. I headed up a board of concerned citizens about 3 years ago. We will be having an open meeting at the Park and Resource center on March 18 at 6:30 pm. This is to bring our merchants together to come together with a plan for our community. In the past we have had work days to beautify our town and have invited the public but nobody shows. Lots of talk on what we should do but no physical participants. So I invite you to our meeting on the 18th for you input.

Where exactly is that "For Lease" sign? Am I completely blind?
I drove past Dahl's twice today, and all I saw was a sign that says "I Buy Houses" stuck in the little lanscaped patch in front of the big Dahl's sign on the corner.

Thanks for posting, Kim.

I don't know what the for lease sign being down means -- but there was one there on Friday, I promise! (And I didn't even see the little purple elephants that day, so I'm fairly sure I was seeing clearly...)

Best,
Leigh

The sign was up on Friday but by 6 pm that night it was removed and braced up behind the Dahl's sign. At that time the staff in Dahl's did not know anything. The next morning the sign was completely removed.

Perhaps the sign was just someone's little joke. About 5 or 6 months ago someone put a ReMax Realty sign at the entrance to the OVLC Confluence Preserve property just west of the San Antonio Creek bridge on 33.

#22 Kim
I'll be out of town on March 18.
Could you start a mailing list for people who would like to be informed about beautification efforts for Oak View

yes we would be glad too. Please email me with your email address and it will be added and sent to you.

I'd go to Trader Joes or even better, a Bristol Farms. The Bristol Farms in Westlake is Fabulous.

Kim-
I need your email address
Please email it to
ojaiguy@roadrunner.com

Hi everyone:

Well, I have some news! The word is that the entire Dahl's complex has been sold, and that there are some exciting possibilities cooking there with the new owners. Don't think there's anything finalized yet, but it looks like there may be a new market going in. When I hear anything concrete, I'll share it.

I'm so excited about this -- I think that if we could get that complex cleaned up and attractive it would make a huge difference for all of downtown Oak View.

And I'm so thrilled that there has been such interest in this conversation and that folks are willing to think about Oak View. I'm going to try to make it to the Beautification Committee meeting on the 18th; I hope others will as well.

Thanks, everyone!

Best,
Leigh

I am OK with a Trader Joes, but absolutely against a Whole Foods (now that the point is moot anyway...). Whole Foods is way too over priced for me to shop in for my family and still pay my inflated mortgage. They are wonderful stores as far as a shopping experience goes, but when I'm looking to overspend for an experience I'll go to Vegas or Disneyland. At TJ's you have to watch what you get, but there's lots of good value there if you know where to find it. (I also have issues with Whole Food's competition and union busting tactics, but I'll spare y'all)

I am not a chain store absolutest but I prefer to support a local business where possible (and Lassen's is a chain too, albeit smaller than Whole Foods or TJ's)

It does kill me that I can get just about any immediate hardware need met down the road but for some common grocery items I have to go to Ventura or Ojai (although there's a fine selection of Belgian Ale at the Corner Market, so maybe I shouldn't complain).

On the meetings: it is very rarely that I can make any meeting or work day unless I can also bring my kids along (ages 3 and 6). I know for meetings at my 6 year old's school they get a baby sitter and every one pays $3 a child to have them watched for a couple of hours. Perhaps something like that can be arrange for meetings in Oak View? Does anyone else have this problem, or is it just us?

Check out Fresh and Easy, the "neighborhood grocery" that is here now in California, they are a cross between T.J.'s and Whole Foods but the difference is they concentrate on smaller areas. Their website is www.freshandeasy.com.

As much as I like TJ's - and I do drive there at least once a month - they don't do the "local" thing very well at all. Apples from New Zealand - geez! Check that carbon footprint at the door before you eat it. TJ's does do pretty well with organic, fair trade, non-GMO ingredients, but I don't believe the demographics here are good enough for them. Whole Foods is too high brow and high priced for Oak View, in my opinion. Garret's suggestion of Fresh and Easy sounds good, but I suspect any chain store will take advantage of large purchasing and shipping from far away to make more money, thereby losing the local element.

Besides Westridge (great market - too far from me) and Rainbow Bridge (lovely market, horribly overpriced) - don't forget Farmer and the Cook - and their wonderful fresh veggies GROWN RIGHT HERE IN THE VALLEY at the old honor farm. Where else can you get veggies picked that morning? How much more local can you get??? I would love to see a combination of Rainbow Bridge and Farmer and the Cook - with an emphasis on local produce and reasonable prices. I believe Steve Sprinkel once said something like, "if you don't know the first name of the person who grew your food - it's not local enough."
Wendy

The big downside to Fresh & Easy is that they are a large British chain.

Tesco, the largest retailer in Britain and one of the top supermarket operators in the world, has committed to invest up to $2.5 billion over the next five years in the Fresh & Easy stores, which at 10,000 square feet are about a third the size of a typical supermarket, but four times that of a convenience store. Tim Mason, Fresh & Easy's chief executive, confirmed he's on plan to have 150 stores opened by February, 2009, in California, Nevada, and Arizona. After that he'll open 200 stores a year. Consultancy TNS Retail Forward predicts Fresh & Easy will be a $10 billion operation by 2015.

Doesn't sound like the right solution to me!!!

Cantwell's Market and Deli in Santa Barbara & Summerland would love to come to Dahl's Can anyone make that happen?