8 minute read
Photo by Chris Mortenson
nario. Blunstone gets a kick out of this anecdote.
“Someone at Rolling Stone (magazine) got Chris White to come into their office and phone the manager of one of these bands and not say who he was,” Blunstone recalled. “Chris then asked him to explain about the Zombies band. So the manager told him this story about how they were all huge fans of the Zombies and since the lead singer was killed in a car crash, they wanted to honor him and the band by keeping the music going, and that’s why they were playing [under our name]. Then Chris White told him he was the Zombies bass player and that the lead singer wasn’t in a car crash. Reading this in print, it was almost like reading my obituary when I was 22 years old.”
Despite the band breaking up, the Zombies stayed in touch. Argent and White went on to find success, while Blunstone reaped his own solo acclaim in the UK with a string of hits that never quite cracked the American market. Argent and White even produced Blunstone’s first two solo outings (which have recently both been re-released in deluxe editions), and White took the production helm for Blunstone’s 1974 effort Journey.
The latter-day Zombies roster found Blunstone and Argent rounding out the lineup with guitarist Tom Toomey, the late Jim Rodford on bass and Rodford’s son, Steve, on drums.
Rodford, who was Argent’s first cousin, was previously the Kinks bassist from 1978 until 1996. He joined the Zombies in 2004 and played with them until his death on Jan. 20, 2018. A memorial service/musical performance was held on the year-anniversary of his death in his hometown of St. Albans. Joining Argent and Blunstone were the surviving members of the Zombies, Chris White and Hugh Grundy (Atkinson died in 2004) and opening the show was ARC, made up of Rodford’s granddaughters, Anya and Cara, and his son, Russ. It was a cherished moment for Blunstone.
Showing no signs of slowing down, Blunstone is busy touring solo and with the Zombies, with plans to record a new album with the latter. It’s all a bit of a whirlwind that the vocalist intends to embrace at every turn.
“So in the last few years, things have gone very well for the Zombies. We’re mature enough now to really appreciate it, because we know how tough this business is,” he said. “That’s why I think we’re very fortunate to enjoy this kind of adventure at this time in our lives. It doesn’t happen to many people that they get these kinds of opportunities at this time in their lives. Believe me, we’re really, really enjoying it and what we’re thinking about is what comes next.” ♦
The Zombies perform on Friday, July 22, at 5 p.m. at Libbey Bowl, 210 S. Signal St., Ojai. For tickets and more information, visit wheremusicmeetsthesoul.com/libbey-bowl-ojai/.
KEEPIN’ IT LOCAL LOCAL
SALZER’S VIDEO REIMAGINED
WITH ROOTS BORN AND BRED IN VENTURA
A new proposal looks to reinvigorate the iconic Salzer’s Video by echoing the shared values of two local family-run businesses. Salzer’s and Safeport have partnered together to breathe new life into the beloved video store where locals explored countless film titles for more than 40 years. Safeport is one of eight applicants vying for an exclusive three commercial retail permits in the City of Ventura. Their common vision to revitalize the two-story building, which is nestled against the Historic Ventura Highway and Victoria Avenue, into a premium retail cannabis dispensary with a mission to offer an upscale guest experience and a commitment to preserving the integrity and unique charm of Ventura.
ROOTED IN COMMUNITY
Local legend Jim Salzer was a predominant presence in Ventura County for over 50 years. Salzer’s Records, which is situated across the street from its former video counterpart, is a beacon for music lovers to discover sound ranging from underground to mainstream artists. The Salzer family dedicated their passions towards sharing their love for creativity and artist expression with their local neighbors. For the last seven years, they envisioned reinventing the video store into a cannabis retail location and awaited a partnership that embodied everything the Salzer family believed in. Tragically, the family was devastated with the passing of Jim in 2020 and are charging forward to continue his dream through an equally passionate and local business family: The Jarvis’.
The Jarvis family is also no stranger when it comes to running businesses in Ventura County. While Jim Salzer was hitting his stride at Salzer’s Records, the Jarvis family was running Channel Islands Boat Yard blocks away from their family home before embarking on a cannabis business venture in 2018. Safeport, a namesake inspired by their nautical ties, offers a premium cannabis experience to its customers. The business continues to be solely operated by the family. Through each passing of business operations for multiple generations, it is evident that both organizations demonstrate a shared fervor for their coastal home. They have identified many local causes in the community and continue to help out through
volunteer hours or donations. Their common values profoundly resonate with these two local families through their contributions to the neighborhoods they operate in.
EYE ON THE ENVIRONMENT
Safeport is a forward-thinking leader in protecting the environment. Partnerships with organizations like the Ventura Land Trust and the Santa Clara River Conservancy. These organizations are charged with preserving the local land and stewarding open spaces for future generations to enjoy. From the beginning, Safeport has always strived to support environmental causes in the community they live in. Efforts throughout the county range from hosting annual beach clean ups to trail maintenance and more. Diversified in their approach to energy efficiency and pollution reductions, Safeport aims to offer reusable products for customers and incentives for staff to elect to integrate cleaner modes of transportation on their commutes in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
SUPPORTING THE UNSHELTERED
Safeport has extended a helping hand towards the unsheltered community since its inception in 2018. Starting with supplying Port Hueneme’s shelter with beds months after their opening as well as partnering with Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County which strives to build a county where everyone has a safe, decent place to live. As Safeport has grown, so has its efforts to support the unsheltered. This was shown by their sponsoring the Oxnard Sleep Out Program which was created in the Oxnard community to implement a permanent funding solution for its unsheltered residents. With the proposed location in Ventura, Safeport is committed to working with the City and County in an attempt to support the unsheltered in the Ventura community. Safeport is sensitive to the unsheltered population that lives within our community and is committed to supporting this group through financial and physical support.
CURRENT STATE OF SALZERS VIDEO ON VALENTINE RD.
VISION FOR THE FUTURE
Safeport offers one of the most extensive product line-ups in Ventura County and currently runs a successful retail store in Port Hueneme since 2018. The proposed Ventura site serves as an optimal location for its significant distance from residential areas, schools, daycares or other locations with considerations to sensitive uses. The site is also aptly situated for sufficient access for customers and the surrounding roadways are robust enough to limit any potential traffic impacts.
Owners Nancy and Lonnie Jarvis are currently expanding operations for new retail, distribution and manufacturing locations in Oxnard, set to open this spring. Yet their dream has always been to set up shop in their hometown of Ventura and that vision is just within grasp. They will soon discover if Safeport Ventura manifests its way into reality and resurrects the Salzer’s Video site in the coming months.
Explore the Salzer experience today!
5777 Valentine Rd. Ventura Open Monday - Sunday 11:00am - 7:00pm Visit online at salzers.com | salzersrecords
Discover the Safeport experience today at their Port Hueneme store!
353 W. Channel Island Blvd. Port Hueneme Open Monday - Sunday 9:00am - 9:00pm Order delivery direct to your home. safeportcannabis.com | safeport_
Safeport Co Owner and Founder, Nancy Jarvis at their collabrative Wildlife Habit Improvement Program with Ventura Land Trust & Topa Topa Brewing Co. Nancy says, “I am so glad that through the creation of Safeport we could rally over fifty volunteers from customers to our staff to help Ventura Land Trust with their W.H.I.P program and support the growth of the young Oak trees in Harmon Canyon Preserve.”
Thanks to Safeport,
Ventura Land Trust has been better able to accomplish our work and serve our community. In May, we partnered with Safeport and Topa Topa Brewing Co. to conduct a volunteer service day at Harmon Canyon. More than 50 volunteers turned out & removed enough invasive plants to fill three large dumpsters! “ - Melissa Baffa of VLT Executive Director
ORDER TODAY!
We began working on the idea of turning the Video Store into a dispensary over 7 years ago. We met with over a dozen different groups trying to find the right fit. While Jim Salzer passed away in March of 2020, we continued searching until we found the perfect match with Safeport.
Both Salzer’s and Safeport are local family run and operated. That means they are in it for the long-term and are growing a business that can be passed to the next generation. It also means that revenue stays in and benefits the Ventura community.
