Goldstein's Bagel Bakery will shut down on March 31 after nearly 16 years in Old Town Pasadena. Goldstein's has two other locations on Verdugo Road in La Canada Flintridge and Santa Anita Avenue in Arcadia that will remain open.
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.
Safeway Inc., parent company of Arcadia-based Vons/Pavilions, is changing operations to comply with a new law that calls for a 25 percent reduction in California's carbon emissions by the year 2020.
Gayle Brewer, a 26 year-old Arcadia resident, runs a Pasadena-based business called Celia Caseta Inc. She provides professional makeup services. She plans to open locations in Arcadia and Northridge.
This article profiles the local business Knight Cleaners. Owned by Peter Delgatto, Jr., and his mother Marilyn Delgatto, it celebrates 40 years in business.
Adam Chu is an entrepreneur opening a seafood grill restaurant in Monrovia on April 17, at 123 East Colorado Boulevard. It will be called Big Shrimps Fish Grill. His goal is to keep menu items reasonably priced because he is also the supplier. he imports seafood under the company he founded called Five Star Seafoods. Chu moved the operations of Five Star from Arcadia to the second floor of the new building that will house his restaurant.
Robert Zook, co-founder of Douglass and Zook Mortuary in Monrovia, has died at the age of 78. His is the second oldest business in Monrovia. The article includes a biography.
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 resident Maggie Campbell, 45, is featured as a business leader. She is President and CEO of the Old Pasadena Management District, working to keep Old Pasadena a vibrant town.
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.
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.
H&M, the Swedish chain store, had its grand opening in Old Pasadena. Later in November, a 17,000 square foot H&M will open in Arcadia's Westfield Shoppingtown Santa Anita.
California's minimum wage increase is going to force some restaurants to hike food prices, cut back on employee hours and reduce advertising. McGrath's Fish House in Arcadia may be forced to reduce employee hours. The minimum wage is now $7.50 per hour. Another 50 cent increase goes into effect January 1, 2008.
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.
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.
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.
Albert Chu and Patricia Huang, the people behind 626 Night Market, now selling chef-made foodie boxes called ChefBox. It is a takeout establishment in South Pasadena that offers high quality meals that can be quickly heated up.