In a small town off the coast of California, hidden within the valley lies a tight-knit community of friends, families, and businesses. Ojai, California, has always been a one-stop shop for delicious farmers’ market food and little shops filled with trinkets lining Ojai Avenue, but in the last few years, things have changed.
This quaint town is evolving. More and more high-end restaurants are taking the spots that were once locally owned, mom-and-pop favorites.
But who’s to say this is bad? As Pinyon co-owner Jeremy Alben stated, “Everyone is from somewhere else,” and “From the start, we made it clear that our intentions are good and we are doing the right things to build community here.
Pinyon is a semi-new pizza shop that opened in Ojai in 2020. The owners, Jeremy Alben and Anthony Montagnarl, understand why certain members of local communities can be standoffish to new businesses coming in, but also that the old business owners must understand that the community and economic climate are simply developing.
As Ojai gets flooded with more and more tourists each year, the demand for new and classy, more modern dining options rises as well. And Pinyon feels they are merely here to fill that need.
“Everyone has something to bring to a community, and as long as people are doing it in a respectful way, there is no reason why we shouldn’t be excited about new businesses coming to town”, Mr. Alben said.
Bliss, a frozen yogurt shop that holds thousands of memories for young locals, sits just down the street from Pinyon. The owners, Jose Mendoza, Don Houle, and Judie Houle, have a different point of view.
Keeping up with the new businesses in town can be very challenging. New businesses with investors and lots of money give them more opportunity to renovate and take risks, while long-standing local businesses have to rely on their small-town charm and deep connections with community members.
“With all these new restaurants and families moving in here, I feel like the (small town) family dynamic is really starting to deteriorate just because of how expensive it has become”, said Mr. Mendoza.
He struggles to understand why these new businesses would expand or migrate into Ojai, while keeping their L.A. or San Diego-esque culture and style.
“I miss seeing the old Ojai that I grew up in”, said Mr. Mendoza.
As Ojai continues to grow and evolve, the heart of the town beats in the tension between tradition and change, a delicate balance between preserving its roots and welcoming new branches.