Ground-breaking ceremonies were held on January 22 to celebrate the start of construction of two new Arcadia hotels - the Hilton Garden Inn and Fairfield Suites.
Arcadia's Fresh and Easy (grocery store) market at 133 East Foothill Boulevard to shut down April 3. The chain is closing about 30 stores, including ones in Arcadia, Azusa, and Pasadena.
City officials of Arcadia and Monrovia are keeping an eye on the financial struggles of Adelphia, one of two cable television providers in the two cities.
The Massage Therapist Regulations ordinance, approved November 5 by City Council, places regulations on the licensing of massage therapists and the activities of businesses offering massage services. It regulates business hours, uniforms, customers' bodily coverings and suggestive ads.
Major changes on tap for Arcadia in the new year. Delta Marriott Hotel slated for the old Santa Anita Inn; Arcadia's tallest building, currently housing Bank of America at 150 N. Santa Anita Avenue, has gone up for sale. The current Arcadia Self Storage at 35 W. Huntington Drive is proposed to become a modern food vendor location, reminiscent of the Grand Central Market in Downtown Los Angeles or the Anaheim Packing House.
Highlighting Downtown Arcadia: Arcadia Blues Club: one of the city's best kept secrets, located at 16 E. Huntington Drive since 2005. The small business is operated by a husband and wife team with a passion for blues music.
The city welcomes construction of two office buildings at 225 and 255 Santa Clara Street. The buildings will be occupied by the law firm of Hart, Mieras, Morris and Peale, LLP, and Los Angeles District Church of the Nazarene.
The history of local restaurant The Derby, since it was originally founded in 1922 as Proctors Tavern, to being bought by jockey George Woolfe in 1938, then sold to Dominic and Lorene Sturniolo, or Sturinolo (article has it spelled both ways) is presented. See VF "Restaurants, Bars, etc." for copy of article.
Massage therapists will have to pay a $265 fee to be licensed in Arcadia under a new city ordinance. A background check will be done on applicants and they will be fingerprinted.
The changing face of Arcadia--commercial brokerage firm NAI submits proposal for downtown districts. The City of Arcadia hired NAI to assess the city's five business districts and make recommendations to improve them and bring in appropriate, compatible businesses. See hard copy in VF Business and Industry.
New indoor playground, a business called Precious Ones, in Arcadia, raises safety concerns for children, in opinion of Planning Commission Board member Kenneth Chan. Despite concerns, the Board was satisfied with owner Sandy Joo's responses and approved her business for operation given she meets all the conditions laid out, which include background checks, CPR training for staff, among others.
City Council candidates running in the April 14th election give their views on how Arcadia can encourage growth and attract new businesses to the city.
The Arcadia City Council approved an ordinance amendment loosening store display restrictions and decided to maintain the first floor retail restrictions on buildings in the downtown business district.
Business spotlight on Hyper Coffee at 203 S. First Avenue in Arcadia, in a historic Art Deco building. It has been in business 17 years. By Helen Wang.