Though there still may be a few bumps in the road, the city’s economic development director said there are indications the local economy is moving in a healthy direction.

Last week, for example, Amgen, the city’s top employer, received the Federal Drug Administration’s approval for Prolia, a drug for the treatment of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis who are at high risk for fracture. That same day Amgen’s stock rose more than 10 points.

“We’re thrilled. First, because this drug is going to save women’s lives,” said economic director Gary Wartik.

He said he’s also happy at the thought Amgen might be growing again.

There’s also been a nine-month uptick in automobile sales. A year ago, vehicles were selling at the rate of 1,100 a month. Now the Thousand Oaks Auto Mall is selling more than 1,400 per month, Wartik said.

“That doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods yet, but it’s a move in the right direction,” he said.

The auto mall provides Thousand Oaks with the majority of its sales tax revenue. The city has had to make cutbacks due to a drop in sales tax revenue and property tax income as a result of the slow economy.

New restaurants have filled in where others had closed. Stonefire Grill is at the former Marie Callender’s site, and Famous Dave’s Barbecue has replaced Apple-bee’s. Sometime this summer Five Guys Burgers and Fries is coming to the site once occupied by Hungry Hunter on Moorpark Road.

Five Guys started near Washington, D.C. It offers a menu of fresh burgers and fries, similar to In-N-Out.

City officials hope that people will travel to T.O. to find out which burger place is their favorite.

The large empty space left by the closing of Mervyns at Janss Marketplace last year is ready to be occupied by the Burlington Coat Factory. Nearby, the Dress Barn fills 5,000 square feet of what was once empty space.

And down the road on Hillcrest Drive, the former Circuit City now houses a Sprouts Farmers Market that opened last month.