Arcadia recognized as "Most Business Friendly" for its mix of a strong local economy, well-known attractions, and responsive city hall workers, at the Eddy Awards, presented by Los Angeles County Economic Development, in the category of city with population less than 68,000. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 13, November 16, 2017.
Dr. Stephen Liu, CEO and chairman of the board of Tomato Bank, is shown in photo. Tomato Bank is opening a branch in Arcadia at 1317 S. Baldwin Avenue with a grand opening celebration on Saturday.
Westfield Shoppingtown Santa Anita has adopted a system that allows shoppers to use their cell phones or Internet to check for items available at the mall before going there. The search is powered by NearbyNow.
Arcadia resident David Tran, the founder of Huy Fong Foods, which makes Sriracha chili hot sauce, was on hand at the first ever Sriracha Festival in Los Angeles. Tran founded the company 33 years ago, after emigrating as a refugee from Vietnam.
Macy's will relaunch at more than 800 sites nationwide, after parent company Federated Department Stores acquired May Department Stores in August 2005. The Robinsons-May in Arcadia became property of the Westfield Group and plans for the site have not been announced.
Health-oriented eating establishments are drawing more customers. Executives of Garden Fresh Restaurant Corporation, which operates Souplantation, believe people are interested in their low-carb, low-calorie and high-quality meals.
The Westfield Group will acquire 15 department stores which are owned by Federated Department Stores, Inc., including stores in Arcadia and West Covina. Robinsons-May in Arcadia and Macy's in West Covina will become property of Westfield and converted for other uses.
Sporting goods retailer REI has completed a solar retrofit of its Arcadia store. The roof of the store is covered with photovoltaic solar panels, which will self-generate nearly 112,000 kilowatt hours of electricity and up to 30% of the store's annual energy needs.
A new Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market has opened in Arcadia. It is owned by Tesco, a British food giant. Tesco's labor practices have come under fire for relying on part-time workers, which may limit the ability of workers to earn a living wage.
The temporary shutting down of horse racing at Santa Anita Park, due to drainage issues associated with its Cushion Track, has slowed food, beverage and merchandise sales on site. The City of Arcadia, which receives a portion of each ticket sold, has cause for concern.
Developer Rick Caruso's $400 million open-air mall at the Santa Anita Park race track may be stiff competition for retailers at Westfield Shoppingtown. City leaders hope the two malls can coexist.
Safeway Inc.'s profit slid 4% in the second quarter as the nation's number 3 supermarket chain continued to battle lingering effects from last winter's polarizing labor strikes.
Battle heats up over odors coming from Huy Fong Foods' (maker of Sriracha chili sauce) Irwindale factory. The City of Irwindale demanded the company curb smells coming from the Azusa Canyon Road factory or cease operations. If production is halted due to a court order, the price of Sriracha will likely go up. Residents have complained of headaches and irritation to eyes and throats. Adam Holliday, Huy Fong's director of operations, is committed to solving the problem. The company's owner David Tran is an Arcadia resident.
Bradbury resident Richard Dootson, founder of the Arcadia-based Dootson School of Trucking, died from a heart attack and brain hemorrhage on Tuesday, May 24, 2005. He was 79 and famous for his wacky television commercials.
Pasadena's Lighthouse Christian Store on Lake Avenue closed its business earlier this month, due to tough competition from bookstores like Amazon and big box stores like Costco, Sam's Club and Target. Lighthouse still has locations in Long Beach and Orange, but their stores in Glendale and Arcadia both closed in recent years.
Singpoli, an Arcadia-based investment and development firm, bought a 1.6 acre property at Lake Avenue and Union Street in Pasadena and plans to build a $60 million mixed use project, including a 165-room hotel and condo complex with 60 units. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 11, May 11, 2017.
Hong Kong Supermarket, a New York-based company, will open a 25,000 square feet market at 935 W. Duarte Road, at the Mon-Arc Retail Shopping Center. It is the fifth Hong Kong Supermarket in the San Gabriel Valley, specializing in imported Asian groceries. It will serve customers from both Monrovia and Arcadia. Asians account for 10.9% of Monrovia's total population while Arcadia's Asian population is at 58.9%.
Los Angeles Superior Court judge Robert O'Brien rejects the City of Irwindale's request to shut down production of Sriracha hot chili sauce at Huy Fong Foods' factory. The city has said Huy Fong should be shut down temporarily until the company addresses foul odors believed to be coming from the North Azusa Canyon Road factory. David Tran, CEO and founder, is an Arcadia resident.