FILLMORE : First New Business Since Quake to Open

Signs of economic life are returning to downtown Fillmore, where the first new business since the Jan. 17 Northridge earthquake plans to open its doors today .

Ranch Style, Farm to Formal, a men’s store offering work and casual clothes, will open at 327 Central Ave., a move city leaders hope will be the first step toward the financial recovery of downtown.

“Maybe we’re the first one, but I think there’s going to be a lot of (investment downtown) because that’s the only way it’s going to happen,” Ranch Style owner Janet Foy said Thursday.

“In order for our neighbors, who are looking at really big investments, to jump, they need to see some positive growth,” Foy said.

“And this is the quickest thing we could do.”

Ranch Style will be the second business venture for Foy.

She and her husband John, who works as a Ventura County firefighter, already own the Fillmore Flower Shop across the street.

“I may have survived the earthquake, but for the business to survive, you have to reinvest,” she said. “You can’t have just one business sitting downtown.”

Hank Carrillo, the executive director of the Fillmore Chamber of Commerce, said he welcomes the new business.

“Hopefully, it’s the beginning of a big recovery by Fillmore,” Carrillo said. “This is the first new store to open up since we were hit with the earthquake, and hopefully it’s not the last. We know there are some other people who are going to build as well.”

Carrillo said the decision to open a clothing store was a savvy move.

“I get a lot of questions about where to buy clothes,” he said. “The nearest place to go for something like that is Santa Paula, Ventura or Thousand Oaks.

“So I think the people in town will support them,” he said. “It might be a little slow at first like every business is. But the need is definitely here.”

Foy said Ranch Style will be open seven days a week.