Over-the-top Tiki lounge planned for Camarillo later this year

A planned Tiki-themed restaurant in Camarillo will use flashing lights, the sound of thunder, traditional art and more to transport guests to Polynesia.

But before guests can envision themselves drinking a cocktail out of a coconut shell on a deserted beach, the House of Bamboo has to finish renovations.

General Manager Darrell Clark stood on a dirt floor inside the gutted building in Old Town Camarillo at 2227 Ventura Blvd. on Wednesday. Behind the property, crews began pouring cement to extend the approximately 2,000-square-foot building.

Clark anticipates the restaurant and bar will be open by the end of the year, despite being under development for years.

The Camarillo Planning Commission approved the development in March 2023, and construction has since started.

Clark and owner Jaime McBride want to take their time with the project to create a destination that will draw people from around Ventura County and beyond the county line.

“We want you to forget you’re in Camarillo,” Clark said. “We want to transport (diners) to some faraway land.”

Ignacio “Notch” Gonzalez ― who has experience building such eateries — has been tapped to design the layout. He designed the Royal Hawaiian Fire Grill in Laguna Beach, which has a similar theme, Clark said.

For the Camarillo project, he’ll be influenced by the Tiki lounges of the 1950s and 1960s, including the Trade Winds restaurant in Oxnard.

McBride compared his "over-the-top" vision to the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland. The restaurant will use lights and projectors to give the impression the carvings and other items on the walls have come to life.

Each booth will have different décor, but one booth located near the bar will resemble a volcano. There’s going to be smoke and bubbling noises. Lighting and audio tricks will make thunder and lightning roar in the booth and throughout the restaurant.

“It’s going to be a little taste of a Disney movie,” McBride said.

Christina Chastain, president of the Camarillo Old Town Association, said the community has been looking forward to the restaurant’s opening.

The association wants to draw attention to the city’s downtown area and its local businesses and away from the Camarillo Premium Outlets. Chastain said the House of Bamboo will help achieve that.

“It’ll bring something different and appealing,” she said.

Brian J. Varela covers Oxnard, Port Hueneme and Camarillo. He can be reached at brian.varela@vcstar.com or 805-477-8014. You can also find him on Twitter @BrianVarela805.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Over-the-top Tiki lounge planned for Camarillo