Glimpses of South Pasadena: Someone lost a fortune...

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Someone lost a fortune...

And I found it. (I thought I'd share it with all of you.)

20 comments:

slopoet said...: A ticket for the yellow brick/rubber road, I knew I left it somewhere.

Back here in Connecticut I left my purse on the Shoreline East Railroad and got it back almost within the hour (had to wait for the train to come back to the starting point). So I may have used up the ticket already.

We think we might be coming to SoPas next month, we'll be stopping in at Buster's...; March 7, 2010 at 6:34 AM
Sharon said...: Thanks you for sharing your fortune! You are most generous.; March 7, 2010 at 7:35 AM
Cafe Observer said...: Oh, really!?
Have the pols or moneychangers been cast out!

And, where wood they have gone: Panda Xpress/Inn??; March 7, 2010 at 8:45 AM
dbdubya said...: I hope the recipient of this fortune didn't run out of luck as he was crossing the street. When I saw this my first reaction was, "what happened to the person who had it."

Panda Inn - a company that was started and headquartered for many years in South Pasadena. The owner still lives in town. I suspect it was much more than luck that allowed him to build a single restaurant in Pasadena into a company with more than 1000 locations today.; March 7, 2010 at 11:27 AM
Pasadena Adjacent said...: I wasn't expecting this so it must be true

dbdubya...........!!!!
A question for you please. Do you remember the name of the restaurant that once stood next to what is now the Ostridge Farm loft complex on Monterey Road? It's currently being developed (no structures on site yet); March 7, 2010 at 12:54 PM
dbdubya said...: PA - I understand that for many years, there was a restaurant named The Virginian. It later became an Italian restaurant called Domenico's. I used to attend lunch meetings there about 15 years ago. It was a great restaurant and did well at lunch, but I understand their dinner crowd dwindled so they moved to a location on Mission but closed after a relatively short time. There is still a Domenico's in Arcadia on Santa Anita.

Since we're discussing old restaurants in the Ostrich Farm area, Gino's, the abandoned eyesore on Pasadena Avenue next to the York Bridge is about to be torn down - finally.; March 7, 2010 at 1:35 PM
Laurie Allee said...: DB, you are such a treasure trove of South Pas info. What would I do without you? I had no idea that the local Panda Inn was anything more than one of many. I am pleased to know that it all started here.

So Ginos is finally coming down? WOnder what's going to go up in its place? Supposedly there is a secret, hidden South Pas stables around there, but for the life of me I haven't been able to find it. (It's not San Pasqual, but another one.); March 7, 2010 at 3:07 PM
alex said...: My fourth grade teacher's husband was actually one of the former owners of Domenico's. When we had a toy drive at Monterey Hills, she awarded us with a pizza party for being the class with the most donations. Her husband also gave us each an uncooked mini-pizza to take home and bake, which I thought was super cool at the time. The local swim club, Sea Tigers, also used to hold banquets there before it shuttered.

dbdubya, do you know what the Gino's or Domenico's are being developed into...or what mixed-use complex is coming up at the corner or Mission and Fremont?; March 7, 2010 at 3:56 PM
dbdubya said...: There are no plans to do anything with the Gino's site at this time. It's being demolished because it's blighted.

The stables are below Gino's. You can find them by going down Marmion towards Marmion Park. There's a driveway and parking lot next to the park. The stables are tucked away almost under the bridge. The entrance is in Los Angeles but part of the stables are in South Pasadena.; March 7, 2010 at 3:56 PM
dbdubya said...: I don't think there are any plans at this time for the old Domenico's site, Alex. Nor are there plans for Gino's. The Mission/Fremont project will be mixed use with retail on the ground floor and residential units above. I hope the economy improves enough for the project to be completed and the units sell.; March 7, 2010 at 3:59 PM
alex said...: thanks DB! i'm glad to hear that retail and residential development is coming to Mission/Fremont. perhaps the adjacent lot can follow the same course...and the leveled Gino's can become the town's new de facto pumpkin/Christmas tree lot?; March 7, 2010 at 4:17 PM
Mister Earl said...: DB - Wasn't the Dominico's sight a Hang Ten clothing outlet after it was the Virginian and before Dominico's took it over? I used to love Dominico's. They had locations in East Pasadena, Arcadia, Old Town, and South Pas. They were once in the location where Senor Fish is now. Not sure if it was before or after they moved to the Virginian location. Not sure if any are still open, but they were owned by different brothers, I believe, and there were some family rifts so that they weren't all under the same ownership.

Gino's: When I first moved to South Pas, I drove by Gino's many times but never ate there. One day I called restaurant critic Elmer Dills on his talk show. He said Gino's was a pretty good place, so I went there a couple times. It was quite nice - European feel. Soon after I started going there, it closed. I've always wondered why it just sat for about 20 years.

Panda Inn: The original Panda was, and still is, on Foothill near Rosemead, near Best Buy now. There was also a location in Glendale, but I think it closed awhile back, but it may still be there.; March 7, 2010 at 4:35 PM
dbdubya said...: I believe, Mr. Earl, that the old Hang Ten warehouse is what is now the Ostrich Farm lofts. I know it was over in that area. You're right about the original Panda Inn. It was in Pasadena. The second one opened in Glendale on Wilson about 25 years ago. The first Panda Express was in the Glendale Galleria. There are now over 1000 locations, all owned by the founder.

After Domenico's closed the Virginian location, they moved further east on Mission, east of the train tracks. I believe they were at the Senor Fish location before moving to the Ostrich Farm. The one in Arcadia is still there. I think the one in Old Town is also still in business.; March 7, 2010 at 4:42 PM
Mister Earl said...: There was something at that restaurant location between the Virginian, which I never saw, and Dominicos. I went to that Dominico's location only a few times. I liked it better when it was at Senor Fish's location. I went to the Old Town one about 15 years ago a few times because they had a rock jam in the basement one night a week.

Mercy and the Merkettes played at the Arcadia location and I believe at the Old Town location sometimes. Now Mercy plays at Cafe 322 in Sierra Madre, where my band, Too Many Guitars, will be playing on St. Patrick's Day night along with Dave and Deanna (The Mello D's), who also are with Mercy and the Merkettes.; March 7, 2010 at 4:56 PM
Cafe Pasadena said...: Mr E, you need to play in your hometown So Pasa sometime.

Is the Sr Fish still on Mission? Amazing if it's still surviving in that location on the other side of the tracks of So Pasa.; March 7, 2010 at 7:13 PM
Laurie Allee said...: I'm so glad to have my long time locals here!

Cafe, as far as I know Senor Fish is doing fine on Mission.

Thanks, all!; March 7, 2010 at 11:11 PM
Pasadena Adjacent said...: Thanks dbd etc

Gads I'm old. I remember the Hang Ten factory. For awhile they had an outlet in front about the same time the double feet were loosing their "cool" factor.

The Arroyo Seco Stables Laurie....where I kept my horse Nia for many many years. Half the SG valley of horse crazed girls (and gay boys) learned to ride under the instruction of Bobby Williams. Believe me, thats a book waiting to happen.

btw: I may be the only person around who can claim to have dinned at Gino's. It was very short lived kind of thing. Before that it was called La Cantina. Bean and cheese burrito 95 cents. We stable kids fought over the basket of chips. Gino's has been closed for decades despite many people trying to rent the place. I always thought something fishy was going on as to why the owners refused to lease it out.
I'll be sad to see it go. Lots of memories there; March 8, 2010 at 9:46 AM
Anonymous said...: In that case, guess this will be my lucky day.; March 8, 2010 at 11:38 AM
Kim said...: Girl, you just rock.
Hey,you've heard about the websit and book called "Found," right? You should submit this post. It's perfect in myriad ways.
-Kim; March 11, 2010 at 1:40 AM
Laurie Allee said...: Oh, I haven't heard! Until now, that is. I will definitely check it out.; March 12, 2010 at 6:54 PM