Bagel Seller Means Business

No doubt some of the legions of employees at Oxnard’s Financial Plaza are now squeezing into an elevator each morning toting fresh bagels along with their briefcases.

Western Bagel just opened its 14th store at the plaza’s new courtyard, which sits at the foot of the high-rise offices at Vineyard Avenue and Esplanade Drive. The courtyard is also home to the Habit, a fast-food hamburger joint, and will soon house Starbucks, Baja Fresh and Quizno’s.

Western Bagel’s entry into the area is a bit of a departure for the family-owned, 53-year-old company.

Not only has the bagel-making institution ventured beyond its core retail market in the San Fernando Valley--there is also a shop in Westlake Village--but its newest store marks the first time the company has set roots outside a neighborhood shopping center.

“The industrial site is brand new for us,” said Erik Dahl, a vice president who has been with the company for more than 20 years. “We’re in the family resident business, really.”

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The Financial Plaza does offer Western Bagel the potential for some serious foot traffic during the week: The location has about 3,500 daytime employees, and an estimated 40,000 vehicles drive past the site each day.

Although the plaza’s employee patronage could be expected to ebb when Friday evenings roll around, Dahl said word of mouth will help draw customers on weekends--normally the busiest time for the company’s other stores.

The upscale shop is in a 2,000-square-foot space and decked out with wood counters, high ceilings and paintings. About 25 bagel varieties are baked each day, and customers can also choose turkey and tuna salad sandwiches, served on bagels, plus muffins, scones, cinnamon rolls, rugelach and lox sold by the quarter-pound package.

DETAILS

Western Bagel, 2350 Vineyard Ave., at the courtyard at Financial Plaza, Oxnard. Hours: Mon.-Fri., 5 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 5 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 604-1777.

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The Valentine’s Day reservation list filled up so quickly at Jonathan’s in downtown Ventura that the Mediterranean-styled restaurant saw fit to offer its prix fixe special dinner tonight and Sunday.

The “Valentine’s Day 2000” menu will begin with a choice of smoked salmon tart or baked brie in puffed pastry with apricot-Cumberland port wine sauce. Next, a choice of radicchio-Gorgonzola salad with raspberry-walnut vinaigrette or spicy Portuguese crab bisque.

Entree choices: sun-dried tomato-smoked cheese ravioli, sauteed with scallops, snow crab, shrimp, vegetables and tossed in lobster cream sauce; fresh escolar, char-grilled and finished with a mango-saffron chutney and pan fried leeks; and rack of lamb, encrusted with pistachio and herb crumbs, baked and finished with a fresh cranberry-roasted garlic mint sauce.

Dessert choices: poached pears with port wine, cassis and cinnamon or Jonathan’s chocolate surprise. Coffee or tea included. Cost $38 (tax and gratuity not included).

Seating will begin at 5:30 p.m. and service from the regular menu will also be available.

The restaurant is at 204 E. Main St. For reservations, call 648-4853.

Rodney Bosch writes about the restaurant scene in Ventura County and outlying points. He can be reached at 653-7572, fax 653-7576 or by e-mail at: rodney.bosch@latimes.com.