On March 15, 2024 a fire blazed in Clearwoods Dry Cleaning located on Telegraph Rd. and Kimball Rd. in Ventura, Calif. The fire was reported at 5:18 p.m. and fire trucks, ambulances and police rushed to the scene as the fire spread into neighboring buildings. Fortunately, nobody was injured, but buildings nearby experienced fire and smoke damage. Local businesses such as Romantic Nails, Simones and Two Trees Restaurant and Tap (Two Trees) were affected by the fire, with Two Trees temporarily closing.
Six months after the tragic accident, Two Trees announced their reopening date. On Aug. 29, 2024, at 7 a.m. they officially opened their doors. With some major updates such as a new interior and an updated menu, Two Trees reopened with a new appearance but remained the familiar, welcoming local restaurant it has come to be known.
The restaurant is still serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with its interior and exterior dining options. Staff and customers have shown enthusiasm to be back at this local hangout spot to create new memories.
The rebuilding of Two Trees was a long and strenuous process, from rebuilding the interior decor, to the installation of new plumbing and electrical. With the rebuild came updated decor and a new layout, though the restaurant still offers a bar, booth and table seating. The new decor touches on the beauty of Ventura, focusing on the beach and coastal weather. The color scheme consists of whites, light blues and yellows.
The new interior took a dramatic shift from the restaurant’s old aesthetic. The shift from a rustic, cozy appearance to a more modern, industrial decoration style.
Two Trees offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, serving family-friendly meals. The restaurant is famous for its weekend brunch, cocktails and Mexican specialties.
The Two Trees staff is friendly, accommodating and helpful, fostering an atmosphere of bonding and camaraderie among residents. Since reopening, the restaurant has been able to take 400 orders per day, reconnecting with the Ventura community.
Two Trees originally opened in 2007 by brothers Isaac and Raul Rubalcava. They wanted a place for the Ventura community to come together and connect. With the frequent flow of customers, Two Trees updated their system on how they sit and serve people. Along with training and updates in the kitchen, Two Trees is glad to be back serving Ventura.
On the day of the reopening, the staff and customers were emotional, waitress Lidia Rubalcava said, “The first day that we opened they were so happy … some of them, they were crying.”
Two Trees is open Monday to Sunday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. with brunch served on the weekend. This restaurant is a place that values connection and family, inhabited by the staff and customers with its sentimental reopening.
