Jeff in the News

Camarillo Fiesta draws a crowd on opening night

July 8, 2011

Camarillo Fiesta President Jeff Walker reflects on a busy opening night and looks forward to the other changes made to the rest of the four-day event.

Camarillo struggling to build Old Town into ‘city hub’

May 31, 2011

Update on the effort to form Business Improvement District in Camarillo Old Town.  Jeff is quoted as Chairman of the Camarillo Old Town Associaton”

In addition to various events, the Old Town Merchant’s Association, a subcommittee of Camarillo’s chamber, is working to institute a property business improvement district.

“We’ll assess ourselves, pool that money and use it to brand the
neighborhood,” said Jeff Walker, chairman of the association. “We’re in the petition phase of setting this up and it’s a pure grass-roots movement. We’ve been trying to get traction to improve Old Town, but there are some hurdles.”

Hotel Makeover Boosts Camarillo’s Downtown Image

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May 9, 2011

Article discusses the recent renovation of the Bella Capri Inn and its importance to Camarillo Old Town and the PBID.

The Bella Capri draws some of its charm from the businesses that surround it.

All of the other hotels in the city are surrounded by parking lots, and require guests to drive to dine at area restaurants, said Jeff Walker, a business owner and head of the Old Town Camarillo Association.

“You walk out the front door (of the Bella Capri) and you are in downtown,” Walker said.

Walker, who has stayed at the hotel, said he was impressed by Kong’s makeover of the hotel.

His group is collecting signatures from property owners to form a business improvement district that allows the city to collect special taxes, which are then used to promote and market the district.

The association sponsors an arts and jazz festival and cruise nights in the summer. It will add more events if the special tax district is created,Walker said.

Local businesses put social networks to work

December 16, 2009

JJ Brewsky’s was an early adopter of social media in the local restaurant business. Jeff is quoted in this 2009 article in the Ventura County Star. He weighs in on the differences in Twitter and Facebook and provides his approach to social networks: make it interesting

Tax provision riles California residents 

November 8, 2009

Jeff discusses the impact of the increase in state withholding tax on restaurants in this 2009 piece by NBC Nightly News.  The adverse effect of the tax on consumer confidence and disposable income decreases restaurant visits.

Old Town merchants consider special district

August 14, 2009

Reports on our early efforts to form a business improvement district in Camarillo Old Town.

There’s a ton of statistical data that shows the district’s benefits,” said Walker, a Camarillo resident. “Occupancy goes up, rents come up—so the property owners benefit in the long run.

Congratulations to those who help make Camarillo shine

February 27, 2009  

In announcing the Camarillo 2009 Top 10 Community Awards:

Not only is the family-owned corner shop an example of the American dream come true, but the business principals practiced by a small company—thrift, hard work and community involvement—are the same values that have helped make the U.S. a driving force of the world economy.

Old Town Camarillo gets a major facelift.

 December 22, 2008

Old Town looked a lot different to Jeff Walker when he was growing up in Camarillo and now as owner of JJ Brewsky’s restaurant and pub on Ventura Boulevard he is doing his part to once again make the area look different.

In August, Walker became chairman of the Old Town Association, a committee of the chamber, and wants to align the committee’s vision of the district with that of the city.The strengths of Old Town are that the city spent money for improvements and its location in the center of Ventura County and close to the freeway and train station, Walker said.As a well-rounded shopping and dining destination Old Town wouldn’t necessarily be competing with the outlet mall further north on Ventura Boulevard but complement it.“You’ll see some unique stores you will not find in the outlet mall,” Walker said.As the largest visitor destination in the county, the outlet mall is a natural to supply shoppers to Old Town businesses – if they know it is there..