The Collection Riverpark — Local services in Oxnard

My friend and I had an extremely distressing experience at the “Annex” food hall, which compelled me to share our ordeal. We were falsely accused and assaulted by a security guard named Andrew, and the subsequent treatment by his supervisors and the management was utterly unacceptable, which proved the statement “a fish rots from the head down.”

While I use cannabis for medical reasons due to my health condition, I consumed it responsibly outside the premises, but I carried a butt in my sweatpants until I saw a trashcan, so my pocket smelled like those ashes, and my friend, actually smelled like “Chanel”. Despite this, Andrew aggressively confronted my friend, accusing us of smoking in the public restroom without any basis. When I turned around to confront him, once I felt from my back that I was being chased he would not speak to me, because he was too busy intimidating my 5 ft tall friend, so I had to call the police and make a report. My attempts to engage in a conversation were met with intimidation, as Andrew yelled and puffed his chest at my friend, even spitting during his tirade. I was calling the police, when another patron intervened to protect my terrified friend from Andrew’s aggressive behavior because it seemed like he was about to hit her. The security guard got scared of the man and called for a backup, and the supervisors arrived. Still, instead of showing empathy for my innocent, crying friend, (while I was busy talking to the police, having tremors, getting migraines, trying not to faint because the distress triggers my disability), they assumed guilt without proper investigation. They said, “ You, girls, could avoid it by just leaving.” first, I’m not a girl; I am a grown woman in my 30s. Second, his Andrew attacked us at the bathroom door and continued chasing and screaming even after we left the premises, so there was no way for us to avoid what he’d done to us.

What’s more troubling is the lack of an apology or any form of accountability from the management. The security guard’s supervisor Mr. Mosones attempted to gaslight me, claiming an investigation showed we smoked in the restroom. However, when questioned about the evidence, he blamed the cleaning lady, creating further confusion.

I contacted the cleaning lady’s supervisor, who denied any accusations from his department’s employees and assured me that Andrew acted on his own behalf. The lack of concern and truthfulness from the supervisors, including the operation director, was disheartening. The operational director’s dismissive attitude, stating he’s “trying to get rid of Andrew, the ef else do you want?” was unsatisfactory. Their response, especially from the director, left me with the impression that there was a failure to acknowledge and address the inappropriate behavior of their security personnel.

In the aftermath, I discovered that Andrew’s misconduct is repeating and has the role of a litmus test indicating a failure in the management’s responsibility. I have a disability involving chronic pain, and while I lack the health and energy to pursue legal action, it’s crucial to highlight the disastrous management at the “Collection.”

For future improvement, I recommend the management:

Screen employees more thoroughly to avoid hiring individuals with obvious mental instability. Take accountability for their employees’ actions, as avoiding responsibility only exacerbates the issue. Refrain from gaslighting and victim-blaming patrons who have experienced misconduct by security personnel. Consider adopting a more responsible approach to liability by offering apologies and compensation for damages in line with the standards of civilized countries and states.

I hope sharing this experience brings attention to the need for positive change and accountability at the “Collection.”

P.S. These are the business cards of people who were supposed to be there for us in this situation, but they chose not to be held accountable and showed an insulting, negligent...

The Collection and I? We have a relationship. Not a casual one, either--it's complicated. Think romance novel meets real estate friction. Some days it charms me, other days I wonder why I keep coming back. But, like any storied romance, I can't quite quit it.

Let me explain.

This open-air shopping center has become a dining haven, no question. The restaurant-to-retail ratio? Let's just say food is clearly winning the popularity contest. And while I'm not mad at a place that feeds me well, I had higher hopes for a more balanced ecosystem. Clothing, footwear, the everyday essentials--these retailers just can't seem to gain a foothold. They come, they try, they leave. Meanwhile, another eatery slides into the vacancy, another bar sets up shop.

But I keep coming for the food--because it's good. Really good.

Settebello nails its happy hour: 3:30pm to 6:00pm daily. Their stone-fired pizza is a masterclass in crust and char, the Involtini salad is crisp and vibrant, and don't even get me started on the warm beets with whipped goat cheese and pistachios. That dish alone could fix a bad day.

Yard House? A staple. Its menu reads like a passport--Mexican, Italian, Thai, American--all in one place. You can take your picky cousin, your business partner, or your burger-obsessed friend, and no one walks away hungry or unimpressed.

Then there's Immigrant Son--a much-needed addition to the breakfast scene. It's not your typical eggs-and-toast joint. This place has polish. Intention. But with that comes price, and for breakfast, it might catch you off guard if you're used to Denny's-style billing. Still, worth it.

Larson's offers a quieter, moodier refuge--especially when everywhere else is packed. The happy hour starts at 5:30pm and the ambiance is intimate. A piano man plays in the corner, adding a touch of sophistication you didn't know you were craving. It's a good reminder that sometimes, quieter is better.

But as much as I love the flavors and ambiance, the experience of being at The Collection has its cracks. And the biggest? The parking garage.

Here's where the "hate" in this relationship surfaces. The structure has become the nightly playground for street car clubs--revving engines, peeling out, blasting music, and burning rubber until the air smells like tire smoke. It's not just loud. It's disruptive. And it's nightly.

Email the property management team? Crickets. No speed bumps, no security intervention, no acknowledgement. Meanwhile, someone who works at The Collection thinks it's cute to set off car alarms every night at 11pm, lighting up the garage like it's Fast & Furious 12.

So here's the ask: Install cameras. Add speed bumps. Get security involved. Protect the peace that so many patrons come here to enjoy. This space is too beautiful, too frequented, and too full of potential to let it be hijacked by a handful of people chasing dopamine on four wheels.

Because honestly? The Collection could be more. It already is almost everything. With a little more oversight and care, it could be the community cornerstone it was meant to be.

We can do better. And with just a few smart moves, The Collection can go from complicated love affair to a...

This place has so much potential. It used to be a very nice and friendly place to shop, relax, and take the kids to the play park. They have great outdoor concerts in the summer and a wonderful Christmas celebration. However, since some new corporation bought it out, security is lax, and they are practically useless. They don't cite violators who park in the limited number of handicap spaces without the HC license plate or placard so real HC persons are forced to park further away in a slot that does not accommodate a wheel chair or walker. There is a "Code of Conduct" that they have regarding bicycles , skateboarding, etc. That literally does not and Cannot be enforced because security is not allowed to approach or engage with the young male punks who know this and, therefore, come en mass to take over the roads blocking traffic and harassing customers. Skate boarders skate through and inside the Annex dining hall where parents are walking with young children and strollers. There are security cameras everywhere, yet no one seems to be watching them to send someone to remove the skateboarders. It is a lawsuit waiting to happen should a customer be injured by one of these idiots. There is no number on the website or anywhere posted to contact security if there is a problem. There has been a big fight in the Annex that took security too long to respond to and when they did they have no knowledge how to properly subdue a perpetrator and no way or place to hold them on citizens arrest. The Oxnard police are also non responsive to calls to the shopping despite having a "store " on site that is not on use and a waste of our...