Old Town High Street in Moorpark is slated to receive a new music-focused concept. Samuzora will open as a Japanese-inspired jazz lounge in the historic building at 601 Moorpark Ave. Owner Samuel Khosravi told What Now Los Angeles that they are aiming for an opening by the end of the year in the 2,500-square-foot space.
Samuzora, which translates to “cold sky” in Japanese, is the combination of Khosravi’s name “Sam” and his daughter’s name “Zora.” The space will feature authentic 1950s and ’60s Japanese decor from a restaurant his wife’s grandmother previously owned in Japan. Khosravi will combine these Japanese pieces with an Art Deco-inspired aesthetic. There will also be a stage for live music.
“The way I describe it to people is if the Great Gatsby went to Tokyo for a few months and tried to recreate it,” Khosravi said.
The team is also committed to maintaining the historic exterior of the building, known as Tanner’s Corner, which was built in 1902 and is on the historical register.
The menu will be beverage-focused, centering around Japanese cocktails, whiskeys and sakes. The limited food menu will feature Japanese-inspired small bites and desserts.
The team is still in the permitting process with the city and renovations are still to come. The space will be designed to be versatile so that it can serve as an event space in addition to a bar.
“We’re hoping to become the premier event space in Moorpark,” Khosravi said. “We know we’re the only destination for sake and Japanese-inspired cocktails on this side of town, and we want to continue to educate people on sakes and whiskeys and try to create good experiences for people.”
Khosravi is excited to be joining High Street in Moorpark with Samuzora. Much development has been taking place nearby, including a new $34 million, 17,272-square-foot city library that broke ground on High Street in January. That project is expected to be completed in 2027. The Daly Group’s High Street Depot has also taken shape nearby, offering new residences and retail spaces.
“High Street is a really up-and-coming area,” Khosravi said. “We see a lot of development happening here. This area is primed to be a major player in the next couple of years.”
