The sign in the window at Movino tells of changes to come!

Some say it’s important to know your farmer. I say it’s equally important to know your bartender. I was walking by Movino yesterday, and though the lights were off and the sign said “Closed,” the door was open and I could see that someone was inside. I peeked in and asked, “Are you Norbert?” “Yes,” answered a voice from the dark. With that, I stepped forward, stuck out my hand and introduced myself.

The yellow sign in the window announcing a change in ownership had been nagging at me for a couple of weeks. You see, I don’t deal well with change. When Maureen Clark sold Movino to Brett and Suzy Johlfs some six years ago, Bill and I had been making this special little bar a regular stop on our weekly rounds, mostly because of Brittany and Deborah, who do an excellent job of taking care of the customers.

Suzy and I are former cellmates of the Inn. A job change took Suzy to Colorado a couple of years ago and soon Movino had to be put on the market. Enter restaurateur Norbert Furnee of Santa Barbara’s Sage and Onion and Ventura’s DECO. I asked him about his reputation as a restaurant flipper and he reminded me that he had Sage and Onion for 10 years and DECO for five. He also lives here and is an early eighties Nordhoff grad by way of Holland (note the accent). To make sure his new venture pencils out, he said he is going to be pulling some shifts.

Though much will change with Movino, including a name change to Barrel 33, Norbert assured me that much will stay the same.

He let me know that not much with the menu will change. Because of the tiny kitchen’s limitations, he will keep many of the menu’s cold items, but pizza may or may not return. New items will likely include a smoked salmon plate and a new selection of desserts.

The art work is going to rotate. I will sure miss the big painting of the dinner party and the yellow dog!

As for music, although we have seen some remarkable talent in this venue, the space is just too small for the bands. This is an intimate setting that deserves music appropriate for sipping wine, which doesn’t require you to scream at your neighbor to be heard. Norbert is looking forward to bringing in acoustic soloists, which means Bill and I just might linger a bit longer (we tend to leave before the second song).

There had been some talk about the space next door, but, Norbert says, since that space has a separate address it would require a liquor license, so that idea has been put to bed.

Wine is the big focus now for Norbert. He is going to improve the wine menu, adding items from his home’s extensive climate-controlled storage. The prices won’t necessarily go up, but don’t be surprised to see additional offerings for as much as $30 per glass.

Movino will remain open until the official hand-off to Barrel 33 in just a couple of weeks. Suzy and Brett, we will miss you. Best of luck to you! Norbert, welcome to Ojai Avenue!

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