The City Council will vote on approval of a property acquisition plan with Rusnak Arcadia tonight. The opposition, comprised of seven former mayors, don't want Redevelopment Agency money to help a private business buy five nearby properties.
Arcadia City Council approves $70,000 to help the Downtown Business Association set up a business-improvement district. The district would tax commercial property owners to revitalize the area.
Judge tells City of Irwindale to just chill out. Request to have Huy Fong Foods' Sriracha chili hot sauce factory shut down was denied. Owner David Tran is an Arcadia resident.
A 2-year-old legal battle between the city of Arcadia and Taboo Gentlemen's Club, a strip club, will most likely result in the club being closed or sold off by April, 2009. The federal court case started when the city revoked Taboo Gentlemen's Club's business license for breaking the city's adult business codes. The club's owners Bill Badi Gammoh and Chawkat Jajieh sued in response, claiming city and police had obstructed business and violated their civil rights. The city's adult business ordinance prohibits lap dances, sexual contact, private dance booths and direct tipping. It requires licensed dancers to perform on an elevated stage.
William Chan and Scott Chen are co-owners of the Arcadia Badminton Club, a new 17-court badminton club on Lower Azusa Road. It is the largest badminton club in the United States.
Arcadia launches the new Arcadia Downtown Business Association, with plans to revitalize the downtown district. Matt McSweeney is the association's chairperson and owner of Matt Denny's Ale House Restaurant on East Huntington Drive. City officials will spend about $90,000 on a parking study and about $18,000 in redevelopment funds to get Arcadia Downtown Business Association off the ground. The revitalization plans should work nicely with the slated opening of the Gold Line station at the northwest corner of North First Avenue and East Santa Clara Street by 2014.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Chalfant has voided a $30 million contract that Los Angeles County awarded to L.N. Curtis and Sons for fire equipment. Arcadia-based Allstar Fire Equipment sued the city and county of Los Angeles, claiming the selection process used to award the contract was improperly handled and the judge agreed. The actual funding for the contract came from the federal Department of Homeland Security. The judge's orders require the county to either restart the bidding process or re-evaluate all the bids properly.
A $30 million plan to provide standardized breathing equipment for every fire department in Los Angeles County has been suspended after a lawsuit alleged the contract process was mishandled and firefighters complained about the quality of the equipment. Arcadia-based Allstar Fire Equipment is suing the city and county of Los Angeles, contending the contract process was improperly handled in a manner that ignored firefighter input and unfairly favored the winning bidder, L.N. Curtis and sons.
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.
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.
Downtown Arcadia business owners establish a Community Benefit District, mandating they each pay an annual assessment on their property taxes to fund marketing programs and activities in hopes of bringing more people to the area. It is called a Property-Based Business Improvement Model. It is a private-sector initiative that bills local businesses by the same criteria used in Old Pasadena--according to their frontage, lot size and scope of any buildings on a given property. 60% of downtown Arcadia owners chose the plan, the result of a three year effort.
Spotlight on Arcadia local Dave Berkus, a renowned capitalist and self-made man. He is the founder and president of Berkus Technology Ventures. He started out as the owner of his own record company, then wrote software, and is now a venture capitalist. Photo.
Spotlight on local business, a hair salon called 1st Ave Salon, located at 10 N. First Avenue, Arcadia, CA. Owner is Veka Estrada, a Temple City resident.
Irwindale officials said Huy Fong Foods (the maker of the popular Sriracha hot chili sauce) can continue operations at its plant as long as it doesn't smell. Huy Fong officials said if forced to shut down, 200,000 fewere bottles would be produced per day. David Tran, CEO and founder, is an Arcadia resident.
Business profile of Move It Aerobics Studio, an exercise facility that offers fitness classes for overweight students. Michele Silence is the owner. Her business is located at 40 E. Live Oak Avenue.
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.
Arcadia-based J. Foley Enterprises, owner of Clearman's Village shopping center at Huntington Drive and Rosemead Boulevard, has proposed building a Kohl's Department Store and refurbishing the Galley Restaurant (The Boat). Residents have complained to the County Planning Commission about the potential blocked view of the San Gabriel Mountains and increased traffic.