Woman makes push to save Dahl's food
by Kelly Feser Eells

In September 2000, when Bert Dahl announced the closure of the market bearing his name, a collective chorus of, "Aw, say it ain't so" went around town.
Oak View's corner grocery store, at Larmier and Ventura Avenue, had been more than a convenience. To northbound travelers it was something of a landmark, the stop at the top of the Arnaz grade. And its homey, small-town atmosphere made it a favorite with part-time residents used to impersonal, "big city" supermarkets.
Yet, by October 2000, there was concern that the store hadn't closed so much as it had been abandoned. On Oct. 10, a resident, alarmed by the fact that there were still perishables on the store's shelves, lodged a complaint with Ventura County's Environmental Health Department - "the last one we received," per supervisor Debbie Borsos.
Borsos explained that, while the items were "immediately removed," Environmental Health officials had already received written notification of Dahl's intention to quit the facility and (voluntarily) suspend its permit, and "the market never had a (forced) closure. They made the decision to close."
The property again came under scrutiny in August 2001, when Dahl confirmed that regional market owner-manager Jose Luna had signed a 10-year lease. In an interview with the OVN, Luna indicated that the market could reopen for business in as little as three months. "I'd like to make it kind of like a Trader Joe's," he was quoted as saying.
But, nine months later, the only sign of the Lunas' interest in Dahl's Market is the one posted in its front window, announcing their application for a permit to sell alcoholic beverages. According to Ojai resident Sandy Adair, "Yhe deal (between the Lunas and Dahl) fell through."
Adair, who'd grown up in Oak View, had been encouraged by news of the market's reopening - though not out of any sense of nostalgia. She had been trying for months to direct people's attention to the fact, "there was all this food still sitting in there, just going to waste."
Indeed, the store has the look of a ghost town. A newsrack still carries the Nov. 22, 2000 edition of the Ojai Valley News. A half-used bottle of Windex sits on a cash register. But it's the dry foods, peanuts, cereal, pet food, canned goods, etc., that disturb Adair most. "The more I see it just sitting there, the more frustrated I get. We have people right here in Ojai who're hungry."
Adair thought, "Why not turn this building into a food distribution center," and staff it with volunteers from the valley's various charitable organizations. "The Humane Society, HELP of Ojai, local food share programs - I'd like to get them all involved."
Finally, "after running into a lot of brick walls," she was able to discuss her idea with Dahl.
"But, he indicated something about a 'tiny lien,' and said he couldn't make any decisions (about the inventory) now."
Sighing, Adair confides that she is "getting more frustrated as time goes by. I'd like to hang a huge banner there, and see what, as a community, we can do about this."
Adair welcomes suggestions, and may be reached at 640-7389.

© 2002 The Ojai Valley News

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