Hungry Hunter closes in Thousand Oaks
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

Hungry Hunter patrons who've been stopping by the restaurant that had been serving prime rib in Thousand Oaks for 35 years were surprised this month to find the doors closed.

Bill Franks, general manager of the Hungry Hunter in Ventura, broke the news to Thousand Oaks employees on July 2 and put a note on the locked door to let those who enjoyed chicken, ribs, lamb or pork chops in the atmosphere of a hunting lodge know they would no longer be served in Thousand Oaks.

"The new lease was coming up, and the company thought it was time to stop," Franks said. "There was no warning, no notice given."

The Hungry Hunter in Ventura benefits from a nearby Marriott Hotel and more tourism than the Thousand Oaks site, where business had been slow, he said.

"It's unbelievable how much competition has sprung up in Thousand Oaks in the past five years," Franks said. "People like variety, and so they went to other places to see what they had."

Hungry Hunter employees had hoped they would come back, but they didn't, he said.

"The restaurant has its own style, like no place else. It's dark, woodsy and comfy- doesn't feel like a chain," Franks said.

Of the 30 Thousand Oaks employees, only two servers are transferring to Ventura, even though all were offered a place, he said.

Hungry Hunter restaurants are located throughout the state, most in the San Diego area, some in Northern California. The two in Ventura County felt like twins, he said.

"I'm going to miss working in Thousand Oaks. I love the community," Thousand Oaks general manager Mike Melendez said.

Melendez is transferring to a restaurant in San Diego, he said.

The business was at 487 N. Moorpark Road.

"We're hoping people who miss the Hungry Hunter in Thousand Oaks will drive to Ventura," Franks said.