Let's Get it Straight - The Shops at Oak Creek

If you are a frequent traveler of Highway 101, it's hard to miss the cottage themed Oak Creek shopping center, just adjacent to the westbound lanes before the Kanan Road off ramp. Already open and booming with business are Panda Express and Urbane Cafe. Trader Joe's and Jinky's Cafe are in the pipeline. 

Want to know more about Agoura Hills' imminent "restaurant row"? Then, read on. 

The Property

The Canwood Street commercial project, which the City Council approved on June 25, is adjacent to the 336-unit Oak Creek Apartments at Kanan Road. The property is most easily accessed from Kanan Road via Canwood Road, but can also be reached from Chesebro Road.

City Council members envisioned the Shops at Oak Creek as a "restaurant row," featuring upscale bistros and elegant dining by the creek. The $19 million, 34,000 square-foot retail development is comprised of four separate structures, devoting a space for Trader Joe's and the family-owned eatery, Jinky's Cafe, along with Asian cuisine chain Panda Express, and a number of other culinary newcomers.

The History

Long-time residents of Agoura Hills and neighboring cities will remember this rectangular plot of land as being a home to Denny's and Pony Express Days.

Denny's was one of the city's oldest restaurants and a popular spot for families to enjoy breakfast and dinner. It also became the go-to location for high-school kids to "sober up" after a night out having a good time.

In the '90s, carnival lights and rides lit up the night sky for one weekend a year—the annual community carnival known as Pony Express Days. Activities included western rock bands in the evenings, a Happy Time Circus for children, and puppet and magic shows. 

What's Really Happening?

Adler Realty Investments Inc. and the city of Agoura Hills disputed over the design of the Shops at Oak Creek development for three years. The original applications for the center were filed in June 2006. Initial plans for a five-building, 34,000-square-foot project, with two highend restaurants, four smaller eateries and several retail shops were denied by the Planning Commission in February 2008, and later amended in March 2009 to accomodate Trader Joe's and Jinky's Cafe. 

Currently open is Urbane Cafe, which specializes in gourmet sandwiches and salads, and fast food Chinese expert, Panda Express.  Trader Joe's is slated to be completed and open in October 2010, while the burger joint, The Habit, is expected to open its doors a month later in November. Other than a few sign permits and a conditional use permit for alcohol sales at Trader Joe's, no recent use permits or development applications have been filed for The Shops at Oak Creek.