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.
Small Businesses Adapt to Economic Uncertainty in Arcadia. The COVID-19 outbreak has frozen one of the world’s most powerful economies and suspended the fate of many business owners worldwide. During these uncertain times, many small businesses are searching for any method or reason to stay open, and in Arcadia, some have gone to great lengths to do so.
Restaurant review, by Merrill Shindler, of Craft by Smoke & Fire, a small chain with one branch in Old Pasadena, another in Arcadia, and a third in Anaheim. Barbecue, sports play well together. Craft by Smoke & Fire eateries have a very good balance of tasty food and entertainment. The Arcadia location is at the Santa Anita mall at 400 S. Baldwin Avenue.
Class of 2023 graduations happening in Arcadia include:
June 1-Arroyo Pacific Academy graduation at Arroyo Pacific Academy, 325 North Santa Anita Avenue.
June 8-Arcadia High School graduation at Santa Anita Park Racetrack, 285 West Huntington Drive.
Also, June 6-Gabrielino High School (located in San Gabriel) graduation will be held at Santa Anita Park Racetrack.
Arcadia through the years: Mayor Paul Cheng hosts 48th Annual Community Breakfast and State of the City on September 6, 2023 at Le Meridien hotel at 130 West Huntington Drive. Ed Andersen of Arcadia Historical Society and Rotchana Sussman, owner of White Springs Cafe, are featured speakers.
Actor and comedian Kevin Hart's Hart House is open in Monrovia at 602 West Huntington Drive. This fast food is all plant-based, no additives or hormones, artificial colors, preservatives, or high fructose corn syrup and it's delicious. Karen MacNair of the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce waas present at the ribbon cutting.
First phase of Le Meridien Hotel taking shape across from Santa Anita Park. Ground broke more than two years ago. The five-story building, on the site formerly occupied by the Santa Anita Inn (its address was 130 West Huntington Drive), was set to open first quarter of 2020, but it has been delayed. It will have a combination of Art Deco elements, inspired by nearby Santa Anita Park, with Modernist features. Architecture firm Architects Orange, interior design firm Linda Snyder Associates, and Snyder Langston is the construction team building the Le Meridien development that spans 6.5 acres.
Shrimp and crab-stuffed salmon at The Derby, 233 E. Huntington Drive, Arcadia, is recommended and the restaurant's menu and reputation are also described.
Local driving to dine can fill bill of fare. Restaurant critic Merrill Shindler reviews The Barn at 815 West Naomi Avenue in Arcadia. It serves yakitori (meats and vegetables on skewers).
Breeders' Cup. Horse named Practical Move dies after gallop at Santa Anita Park. A short time later race horse Arcangelo dropped out of the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park.
Businesses rejoice as Coronavirus restrictions are relaxed. On Friday, California met the vaccine equity goal that allowed public health jurisdictions in Los Angeles County, including Pasadena, to move into the less restrictive red tier of the state’s reopening roadmap on Monday. As Los Angeles County geared up for some semblance of familiarity after an extraordinary 12 months of lockdown, the defining red tier reached is a delineating moment for better days ahead. The staggering loss of life, political turmoil and concerns of becoming another statistic weigh heavily on the minds of Southern Californians as we enter into the next phase of reopening businesses which we used to take for granted. As of Monday, indoor dining, movie theatres and other businesses were allowed to reopen with limited capacity — restaurants at 25% for example.
Tribune/Star-News All-Star Basketball Classic for boys and girls ready to go Saturday at Damien High School after a three-year absence. Three locals from Arcadia, Lavon Domino, Tim Kwan, and Mel Manell, played.
Arcadia's historic Derby Restaurant may be relocated. A mixed-use project may take the place of The Derby and Embassy Suites at 211 East Huntington Drive - 233 East Huntington Drive. Local historian Sandy Snider expressed concern that the 99 year-old building may end up being razed. George Woolf bought the Derby in 1938, originally named Proctor Tavern when it operated in 1922. Councilman Paul Cheng supports the relocation of The Derby. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 2, August 13, 2020 for "The Derby-what's next?"
Tough task for no. 15 for Rio Hondo Prep's Kares football team. Rio Hondo Prep has 66 boys on its campus in Arcadia. Top-seeded Rio Hond Prep (12-2) will travel to take on no. 3 seed Santa Monica (9-4) on Friday in the CIF Southern Section Divion 9 championship. Pictures of the Kares players at a luncheon.
All-Star Basketball Classic-rosters, coaches named. San Gabriel Valley Tribune/Star-News All-Star Classic for boys and girls basketball seniors will be held 3/25, making its return after a 3-year absence, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which canceled the games in 2020 and did not return in 2021 and 2022. From Arcadia, the All-Star Star-News boys are Lavon Domino and Tim Kwan. From Arcadia, the All-Star Star-News girl includes Mel Manell.