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The City may have to seize Rod's Grill and the Elks Lodge under eminent domain to accommodate Rusnak Arcadia's auto dealership expansion. Manny Romero, owner of Rod's Grill, and the Elks Lodge do not want to move and do not like what the City is offering for the land parcels.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper29851
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
January 9, 2006
Pages
p. A1, A6
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
January 9, 2006
Pages
p. A1, A6
Subjects
Auto dealerships
Elks Lodge
Eminent domain
Rod's Grill
Romero, Manny
Rusnak Mercedes Benz - expansion
Item ID
30036AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Manny Romero, owner of Rod's Grill, has initiated Measure A to try to block the Rusnak Mercedes Benz automobile dealership from expanding. The city has put out a counter measure, Measure B, to citizens to vote on at the May 8 election.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper30476
Newspaper
Arcadia Weekly
Date
April 5, 2007
Pages
p. 1
More detail
Newspaper
Arcadia Weekly
Date
April 5, 2007
Pages
p. 1
Subjects
Ballot measures
Central Business District (CBD)
Measure A
Measure B
Restaurants
Rod's Grill
Romero, Manny
Rusnak Mercedes-Benz
Item ID
30663AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Manny Romero, the owner of Rod's Grill, wants voters to pass a ban on auto sales on the block bounded by Santa Anita Avenue, Huntington Drive, and Morlan Place. The city wants to buy out his property under eminent domain.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper29920
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
February 14, 2006
Pages
p. A1, A4
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
February 14, 2006
Pages
p. A1, A4
Subjects
Romero, Manny
Rod's Grill
Eminent domain
Redevelopment
Rusnak Mercedes Benz - expansion
Item ID
30106AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

A proposed land deal will allow Rusnak Mercedes-Benz dealership to expand and Rod's Grill will not have to move. The Arcadia Redevelopment Agency has acquired the Dahlgren lot on Santa Clara Street, the last parcel of a 2-acre site it intends to sell to Rusnak. This sale would enable Rusnak to expand from 4 to 6 acres. A public hearing is scheduled for April 19. In addition to the recently acquired Dahlgren property, the current proposed site also includes the former Church of Arcadia on Morlan Place and a commercial strip along Santa Anita Avenue that contains 16 tenants. The proposed deal guarantees the city would receive at least $800,000 in sales tax a year for the next 10 years.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper32372
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
April 10, 2011
Pages
p. A1, A6
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
April 10, 2011
Pages
p. A1, A6
Subjects
Arcadia Redevelopment Agency
Automobile Dealerships
Rod's Grill
Rusnak Mercedes-Benz--expansion
Item ID
32570AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Competing measures will go to voters in May. Measure A, sponsored by Manny Romero, the owner of Rod's Grill, would prohibit automobile sales in an area bounded by Santa Anita Avenue, Huntington Drive, and Morlan Place for twelve years. Measure B would allow auto sales and related uses on the block and contains a provision to eliminate eminent domain as a tool to acquire property for future development in downtown area.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper30373
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
January 26, 2007
Pages
p. Local 1
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
January 26, 2007
Pages
p. Local 1
Subjects
Ballot measures
Eminent domain
Rod's Grill
Romero, Manny
Rusnak Mercedes Benz - expansion
Item ID
30560AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

City Council quietly dropped eminent domain action against Rod's Grill. The city is working with the Church in Arcadia and Elks Lodge to buy their properties so that Rusnak Mercedes Benz might expand its business.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper30064
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
June 1, 2006
Pages
p. A1
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
June 1, 2006
Pages
p. A1
Subjects
Rod's Grill
Eminent domain
Rusnak Mercedes Benz - expansion
Self-Storage
Item ID
30251AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Church in Arcadia will move to land formerly occupied by the city's mounted police at 630 E. Live Oak Avenue. Church in Arcadia is currently at 21 Morlan Place, the former site of Arc Bowl and Arcadia Bowling, which closed in the late 1970s. This deal was done to try to keep neighbor Rusnak Mercedes Benz, the city's largest sales tax generator, from moving to another city.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper30887
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
January 11, 2008
Pages
p. Local 1
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
January 11, 2008
Pages
p. Local 1
Subjects
Church in Arcadia
Rusnak Mercedes Benz - expansion
Item ID
31075AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Measure B was approved by voters yesterday. This will allow Rusnak Mercedes Benz to move ahead with expansion plans. The City of Arcadia will not be able to use eminent domain as a tool for redevelopment for private use.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper30526
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
May 9, 2007
Pages
p. News 1
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
May 9, 2007
Pages
p. News 1
Subjects
Ballot measures
Eminent domain
Elections - 2001-2010
Rod's Grill
Rusnak Mercedes-Benz - expansion
Item ID
30714AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Owner of iconic Rod's Grill in Arcadia, Manuel de Jesus Romero, succumbs to COVID-19.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper35928
Newspaper
Arcadia Weekly
Date
February 18, 2021
Pages
p. 8
Announcement Type
Obituary or death notice
More detail
Newspaper
Arcadia Weekly
Date
February 18, 2021
Pages
p. 8
Announcement Type
Obituary or death notice
Subjects
Coronavirus-COVID-19
Deaths
Restaurants, bars, etc.
Rod's Grill
Romero, Manuel de Jesus
Romero, Manny
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Arcadia city officials adopt a 5-year redevelopment plan. The major goals are the expansion of the Rusnak Mercedes Benz auto dealership, development around the future Gold Line station and several affordable housing programs. The city demolished the Church of Arcadia's old building at 21 Morlan Place in September to make room for a parking lot that could be used by Rusnak.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper31832
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
December 5, 2009
Pages
p. A1
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
December 5, 2009
Pages
p. A1
Subjects
Gold Line - Arcadia station
Redevelopment
Rusnak Mercedes Benz
Senior housing
Item ID
32029AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Rod's Grill, in Arcadia since 1956, fights City Hall's eminent domain proceedings. This article gives the history of the restaurant started by Rod Wellman and the history of current owner Romero's battles and City's negotiation efforts.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper29985
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
April 9, 2006
Pages
p. A1, A6
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
April 9, 2006
Pages
p. A1, A6
Subjects
Rod's Grill
Romero, Manny
Wellman, Rod
Eminent domain
Diners
Restaurants
Business and Industry
Googie architecture
Item ID
30172AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Exterior view of Rod's Grill showing the west side of restaurant, its sign, customers waiting outside, and the street signs where it was located, the corner of Huntington Drive and Morlan Place. Rod's was located at 41 W. Huntington Drive in Arcadia, along Historic Route 66, from 1957 through February 2023.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/photographs2450
Date
2023
More detail

  1 image

Date
2023
Subjects
Rod's Grill
Restaurants, bars, etc.
Physical Description
color printout, born digital, see P:\Library Photos\images
ID
2306
Collection
Photographs
Images
thumbnail
Less detail

The City of Arcadia has acquired half of the land originally promised for Rusnak's Mercedes Benz expansion. Arcadia Self-Storage and Church in Arcadia are selling to the city but the Elks Lodge and Rod's Grill refused to sell. The city expects Rusnak to produce a minimum of $700,000 each year in sales tax for 10 years, or until the loan is repaid.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper30200
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
September 15, 2006
Pages
p. A1
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
September 15, 2006
Pages
p. A1
Subjects
Automobile Dealerships
Eminent domain
Redevelopment
Rusnak Mercedes-Benz
Item ID
30387AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Diners line up to get last meal at Rod's Grill in Arcadia. Restaurant that has served generations of people closes on Sunday (yesterday). Hundreds of diners made a final pilgrimage to Rod's Grill in Arcadia at 41 W. Huntington Drive, along Historic Route 66. Rod Wellman started the restaurant in 1946 in Alhambra. The Arcadia location opened in 1957 offering 10 cent coffees and 40 cent slices of pie a la mode. Wellman's sons Barry and Brian took over years later, then Manny Romero bought it about 25 years ago and kept its vintage vibe. Romero was an immigrant from Mexico. He died in 2021. Television shows such as This is Us, Mad Men, Last Man Standing, and Luck, had filmed episodes there. See hard copy in VF. See also Pasadena Star News, p. A3, A4, February 9, 2023.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper36421
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
February 13, 2023
Pages
p. A3, A5
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
February 13, 2023
Pages
p. A3, A5
Subjects
Historic Route 66
Hoffman, Jason
Meek, Russell
Restaurants, bars, etc.
Rod's Grill
Romero, Manny
Shuton, Ema (General Manager of Rod's Grill)
Vollrath, Julie
Wellman, Rod
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

The City of Arcadia has finalized a deal with the Church of Arcadia so the church can move forward with its expansion. The city will pay the church $3.6 million and give it a 1.2 acre property at 630 E. Live Oak Avenue, in exchange for the church property at 21 Morlan Place. The church plans to build a two-story, 23,000 square feet church and meeting hall on the Live Oak Avenue lot. The Morlan Place property is near Rusnak Mercedes Benz.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper30913
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
February 7, 2008
Pages
p. Local 1
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
February 7, 2008
Pages
p. Local 1
Subjects
Church of Arcadia - expansion
Land use
Rusnak Mercedes Benz
Item ID
31108AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Arcadia City Council approves Rusnak Mercedes-Benz land sale. The automobile dealership plans $10 million in new construction on its six acres. It will include a new 25,000 s.f. showroom on Santa Anita Avenue.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper33512
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
May 24, 2013
Pages
p. A3
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
May 24, 2013
Pages
p. A3
Subjects
Automobile Dealerships
Rusnak Mercedes-Benz
Item ID
33707AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

The Arcadia Redevelopment Agency adopted a resolution approving the land acquisition and development agreement to help Paul Rusnak buy five sites for his Mercedes Benz dealership expansion. The Arcadia Elks Lodge doesn't want to move.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper29394
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
January 31, 2005
Pages
p. A3
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
January 31, 2005
Pages
p. A3
Subjects
Arcadia Redevelopment Agency
Arcadia Elks Lodge 2025
Rusnak Arcadia--expansion
Mercedes Benz
Car Dealerships
Item ID
29578AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Rod's Grill, Arcadia's beloved classic diner, announces its closure after nearly 70 years. Closing date will be Sunday, February 12, 2023. It is located at 41 West Huntington Drive, along Historic Route 66. The diner began as a small chain of restaurants in 1946, with the Arcadia location opening in 1957.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper36420
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
February 9, 2023
Pages
p. A3, A4
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
February 9, 2023
Pages
p. A3, A4
Subjects
Historic Route 66
Monroy, Wendy
Restaurants, bars, etc.
Rod's Grill
Romero, Manny
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

The Arcadia Redevelopment Agency is apparently making some progress in a project to improve the area around the Rusnak Mercedes-Benz dealership. The project, known as the Morlan Place Center, has been the topic of closed-door discussions with property owners around the Huntington Drive site. The city has extended offers to at least two property owners to move to 620 E. Live Oak, so that Morlan Place Center can be developed.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper32475
Newspaper
Arcadia Weekly
Date
September 18, 2003
Pages
p. 1, 14
More detail
Newspaper
Arcadia Weekly
Date
September 18, 2003
Pages
p. 1, 14
Subjects
Arcadia Redevelopment Agency
Morlan Place Center
Rusnak Mercedes-Benz--automobile dealerships
Item ID
32671AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Interior view of Rod's Grill showing customers eating at counter and at tables in booths. Also pictured are some waitresses and cooks, as well as two of the historic photos that the restaurant displayed on its walls. Rod's was located at 41 W. Huntington Drive in Arcadia, along Historic Route 66, from 1957 through February 2023.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/photographs2448
Date
2023
More detail

  1 image

Date
2023
Subjects
Rod's Grill
Restaurants, bars, etc.
Physical Description
color printout, born digital, see P:\Library Photos\images
ID
2304
Collection
Photographs
Images
thumbnail
Less detail

20 records – page 1 of 1.