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WHY PASADENA
With 145,000 residents in the city and over 500,000 within a 5-mile radius, Pasadena is a premier location in the heart of Los Angeles County & the San Gabriel Valley. We are a city full of creatives, entrepreneurs, CEO’s and actual rocket scientists. Herein, we shine the light on those people who are inventing, and reinventing, what it means to live & thrive in Pasadena every day.
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ROSE PARADE TO BE HELD ON JANUARY 2ND
The 134th annual Rose Parade and Rose Bowl game will be held on Monday, January 2nd, 2023, due to the tradition of never holding the parade on a Sunday. This tradition dates back to 1893, three years after the Rose Parade’s inception, when the parade organizers faced a dilemma as New Year’s Day fell on a Sunday. The organizers feared that the parade would spook the horses located outside of churches along the parade route for Sunday services. The “Never on a Sunday” exception has been observed ever since. This year’s parade theme is “Turning the Corner.” The parade will feature 39 unique floats and former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords will serve as the Grand Marshal.
 
Above, the 2020 Rose Parade Opening Float and the UPS Store's Award-Winning 2022 Float
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SHOP SMALL, SHOP LOCAL HOLIDAY CAMPAIGN
It’s still not too late to support local businesses as you complete your holiday shopping for the season! Now, through December 24, you can participate in Pasadena’s 2022 “Authentically Yours” Shop Local Campaign. More than two dozen local, independent businesses are participating in the campaign as official welcome stations. These designated locations will be offering free canvas shopping totes as gifts with purchase while supplies last.
A list of participating businesses can be found here:
https://www.cityofpasadena.net/economicdevelopment/shop-pasadena/
 
Pasadena Roots (plant shop) North Lake Ave. and Washington Bl. (left)
Mercadito Monarca (artisanal Mexican gifts) 696 E. Colorado Bl. Ste. 19 (right)
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LOOK OUT FOR EDDIE THE ELF!
Eddie, the Economic Development Elf, is continuing our holiday shop local campaign "Authentically Yours, Pasadena" by visiting small and independent businesses in Pasadena. This year's theme amplifies the people, places and great finds that give Pasadena its vibrancy and authentic flavor. The campaign is shared on social media, which has brought new customers and awareness to these independent businesses in Pasadena. You can follow Eddie’s adventures at the Instagram handle, @thinkpasadena.
Eddie the Elf at I Like Pie on S. Raymond Avenue. Photo Credit Karina Antoine
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ON-STREET DINING UPDATE
Even the success of the City’s on-street dining program will not slow down preparations for the Rose Parade. To get ready for the parade, the traffic control barriers that create the on-street dining areas along the parade route will be removed by the City beginning Thursday, December 15 and reinstalled as early as Friday, January 6.
Anyone who wishes to take advantage of the on-street dining program is encouraged to contact Public Works staff at pw-permits@cityofpasadena.net. The application materials can be accessed via the Public Works website under “Outdoor Dining Application and General Conditions”.
Diners enjoying a meal on Colorado Boulevard
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PROTOMER TECHNOLOGIES OPEN IN PASADENA
Protomer Technologies, a subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company, recently celebrated their Grand Opening at 26 N. Euclid Ave. and Lilly-Caltech Innovation Day in October 2022. Founded in 2015 and based in Pasadena, California, Protomer is engineering next-generation protein therapeutics that can sense molecular activators in the body. Their proprietary peptide- and protein-engineering platform is used to identify and synthesize molecules that can sense glucose for the purpose of revolutionizing type 1 diabetes treatment. Protomer is a prime example of a life sciences company, which the City of Pasadena aims to foster, grow and expand.
Alexandria Building, 26 N. Euclid Avenue
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LANDMARK THEATRES TO OPEN IN JANUARY 2023
Landmark Theatres, which took over the space vacated by Laemmle Theatres on Colorado Boulevard, aims to open its doors in January 2023. The space is currently being renovated to include modern seating and an expanded concessions area, with gourmet food, beer and wine among its offerings. The seven-screen, 1,300-seat venue will also have upgraded sound and projection systems for a high-quality moviegoing experience.
Future Home of Landmark Theatres, 673 E. Colorado Blvd.
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UPDATE: DINE BRANDS SECURE BUILDING PERMITS
Dine Brands Global, who recently signed a lease at 10 West Walnut, has recently received their building permits and will soon start construction on the 94,000 square foot build-out of their new headquarters.
In June, Dine brands, parent company of Applebee’s Grill and IHOP, announced that it was moving from Glendale to the new development 10 West Walnut in Old Pasadena.
10 West Office Development, 10 W. Walnut Street
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WESTERN ASSET RENEWS LEASE
Western Asset Management Company, a global fixed-income management company, recently renewed their lease at 385 E. Colorado Blvd.
Founded in 1971, Western Asset has nine offices world-wide, 757 employees globally and currently have $375.5 billion of assets under management. They currently occupy over 180,000 square feet at their Pasadena office.
As a significant employer, Pasadena is excited to have Western Asset here through 2035.
Western Asset Management Headquarters, 385 E. Colorado Blvd.
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ONNI GROUP PURCHASES PASEO COLORADO
In October, Onni Group, a Canadian development firm, purchased the Paseo shopping center on E. Colorado Boulevard. It is expected the new owner will look to revitalize the center, home to tenants such as H&M and Yard House, Hyatt Place Hotel and soon-to-open residential condominiums and office spaces, both of which are to the immediate east of the center.
Paseo Colorado, 280 E. Colorado Blvd.
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BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU MOVES TO PASADENA
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Los Angeles and Silicon Valley recently relocated from Downtown LA to 696 E Colorado Blvd. The new Pasadena office, taking just over 2,000 square feet, serves the counties of Los Angeles, Santa Clara, San Benito, Santa Cruz and Monterey.
Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a private nonprofit organization founded in 1912 with a self-described mission is to focus on advancing marketplace trust.
CEO Steve McFarland adds, “On average, our Pasadena office processes nearly a thousand consumer complaints per day. We are proud to serve our local area and thrilled to be in Pasadena.”
Arcade Lane Pasadena, 696 E. Colorado Blvd.
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ICE HOUSE COMEDY CLUB TO REOPEN IN 2023
The Ice House Comedy Club, a Pasadena entertainment staple since 1960, will celebrate its grand reopening on January 18, 2023 after a long closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The oldest comedy club in the country, the Ice House was established in 1960 and has hosted many notable acts such as Steve Martin and Robin Williams. The grand-reopening celebration will feature entertainment by comedian Jimmy Burns and remarks by Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo and Ice House owner Johnny Buss.
Interior View of Ice House Comedy Club Pasadena
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NEW BUSINESSES
Several new businesses have arrived in Pasadena just in time for the holiday season. Tepito Coffee recently opened in the Playhouse Village, in front of Vroman’s Bookstore. Owned by Emmy-nominated actor Richard Cabral and strategist Mike de la Rocha, Tepito is a specialty coffee company that sources all of its coffee from a small rural village in Veracruz, Mexico. Their mission is to connect people to their culture through coffee.
Dessert aficionados can celebrate their love for sweets at I Like Pie, located on South Raymond Avenue in Old Pasadena. Owned by a wife-and-husband team, I Like Pie specializes in individually-portioned sweet and savory pies in flavors that change along with the seasons. Offerings include Salted Caramel Banana Cream, Cookie Butter, and Winter Berry, among others.
Banter & Bliss Candle Co. on Colorado Bl. near Los Robles Ave. offers scented candles and bath products as well as candle-making workshops where customers can create their own handmade candles in unique fragrances such as Pineapple Cardamom, Marigold Peach and Wild Fig & Sage. For those looking for a unique gift, the shop also offers take-home DIY candle-making kits.
Inspired by the flocks of green-feathered birds that reside in and around Pasadena, Wild Parrot Brewing Company serves up pub-style eats alongside their unique selection of in-house brewed lagers, pilsners and ales. The family-owned establishment features an open-concept design that allows patrons to watch the brewing process and shares space with Rosebud Coffee in East Pasadena.
Tepito Coffee- 695 E. Colorado Bl. https://www.tepitocoffee.com/
I Like Pie- 38 S. Raymond Ave. https://ilikepiebakeshop.com/
Banter & Bliss Candle Co.- 450 E. Colorado Bl. https://banterandbliss.com/
Wild Parrot Brewing Co.- 2302 E. Colorado Bl. http://www.wildparrotbrewing.com/
Tepito Coffee
I Like Pie
Banter & Bliss Candle Co.
Wild Parrot Brewing Co.
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SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Start and grow your business with resources offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Contact your local district office at (818) 552-3201. Click here for more info.
For more business assistance and training information, please visit our business toolkit page here. |
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