For decades, in fact for a quarter of a century from 1972 - 2007 the Dume Room was a Malibu-based tavern where the cowboys and horseman hung out including the old stars. So westernized was the Dume Room, it had a hitching post outside in the front.

Original proprietor, Ralph Newbert, maintain full ownership until 2002 when he brought on a partner in that of Mario Vitale. As Mr. Newbert's partner, Mario worked tirelessly in his position as operations manager making improvements to the tavern while maintaining its old western traditions and a friendly atmosphere. Ralph Newbert, the icon of the Dume Room, died in 2007 at the ripe old age of 94. The goal for Mario's was then to carry on the traditions of the Dume Room. However, like we have so often seen in Ventura, the old and established businesses, are more often than not, pushed out only to be replaced by the new.

Meantime, Mario being Mario was determined to relocate. The Dume Room would carry on even if it meant opening its doors elsewhere. Subsequently thereafter, checking out city after city in Southern California, he choose the old Franky's Restaurant site to establish the Dume Room - a turn key operational restaurant site. That was early in 2009.

We watched for eight months while Mario brought in his crew to remodel and meet the code enforcements and licensing departments' requirements for both Ventura County and the city of Ventura. (Actually, this was a much shorter time frame than we have watched for a lot of the Dume Room's neighbors. This was, however, a restaurant site for over twenty years before Mario and his people took over.) Then on Christmas Eve Day, December 24, 2009, the Dume Room received a gift and was allowed to open its doors for business in Ventura.

One of the great assets on board as managing/staff of the new Dume Room is that in Kris Pustina-Haldane formerly a seventeen year owner of Franky's Restaurant. Kris is now managing and overseeing the old Franky's vegetarian breakfast and its menu. So many of you loved her breakfast/lunch menu and now you can choose from that old menu of delights. As some of you may remember, there were entrees to die for.

The Dume Room lunch menu is a collective-mix combination of seafood with Italian flair, sandwiches, salads, and soups meanwhile folded in is the old-new vegetarian lunch menu from Franky's Restaurant.

Evening entertainment is evolving with local and regional bands and musicians such as Tommy Fundervurk who according to Wikipedia is an American rock and roll singer. He has recorded with artists such as Jon Anderson, Laura Branigan, Coverdale-Page, Melissa Manchester, Magnum, Mötley Crüe, Steve Lukather, Richard Marx, Rick Springfield, Starship, REO Speedwagon, Whitesnake. Fundervurk has, also, been a lead singer for a Boston Group with 22 #1 hits.

Another of the Dume Room's performing artists is David Maestra who has played for USA presidents and tour with icons like Stevie Wonder and appeared on Oprah Show. The Dume Room is looking forward to bringing in more entertaining groups into the mix and starting a Karaoke night once a week.

Mario Vitale is proud to join both the local Downtown Business Community and the Ventura Business Community as a whole. Dume Room is located in the heart of Downtown Ventura at 456 E. Main Street, Ventura, CA 93001. Phone: (805)649-6300.

Dume Room is open for business seven days and nights a week.