The Pavilions supermarket behind a Lake Avenue open-air shopping center in Pasadena is closing Sept. 5, a Pavilions spokeswoman confirmed Thursday.
In a statement, Courtney Carranza said the decision to close the store at 845 E. California Blvd. was made because “it’s necessary to close locations that do not meet financial expectations.”
Roughly 55 employees of the store a few blocks west of the exclusive San Marino neighborhood and campus of California Institute of Technology, a science and engineering research university, were told Monday, July 6, of the closing, according to employees who spoke with the Southern California News Group.
The workers, who wanted to remain anonymous, were told they could transfer to another grocery store within 25 miles of the Pasadena Pavilions.
“I’m not transferring to a store 25 miles away,” said one cashier who wants to stay with the supermarket chain. The closest Pavilion’s is about 3 miles away at 1213 Fair Oaks Ave. in South Pasadena.
Pavilions is operated by Vons, the Southern California division of parent company Albertsons Cos. in Boise, Idaho.
Two nearby Vons stores — at 155 California Blvd. and 2355 E. Colorado Blvd. — are less than 2.5 miles away.
The decision to close Pavilions, which is “isn’t one we made lightly,” was aimed at the company’s “focus on growth,” Carranza said. “We continuously evaluate our operations to identify opportunities to strengthen the overall business.”
The store, which is next to The Shops On Lake Avenue, opened in 1990, the spokeswoman said. The open-air shopping center has a Macy’s, Trader Joe’s, TJ Maxx, Ann Taylor and other boutique stores.
Ben Medina of Pasadena said Thursday that he’s disappointed the Pavilions is leaving the neighborhood.
“I buy most of my staples here,” Medina said. “Where am I going to get my diet Coke?”
Medina said the Pavilions is conveniently near his home, a 2-minute drive or a 10-minute walk. “I don’t want to go to the Vons nearby (155 E. California) because it is on a high-stress road,” he said.
So what kind of grocery would he like to see replace the Pavilions?
“I don’t know. I’m sure it won’t be an Erewhon,” Medina said of the Los Angeles-based luxury supermarket chain known for its expensive organic and ethically-sourced foods.
Ray Santamaria, who owns a construction business around the corner from the Pavilions along South Lake Avenue, said that his few minute walk to the grocery store to buy a sandwich and soda is shaking up his daily routine. He typically grabs a late lunch, then heads over to Mayfield Middle School along Euclid Avenue to pick up his daughters.
“I came here every day to get something to eat,” Santamaria said. “I suppose I’ll have to go to Einstein bagels,” said a grimacing Santamaria of the pricier Einstein Bros. Bagels store at 605 S. Lake Ave.
Others are anxious about what might replace the Pavilions.
“I’m devastated. I couldn’t sleep last night after hearing about it. I’m heartbroken,” said Bri Behr, a 20-year resident of the area.
Another shopper, Micaela Flores, chimed, “I’m honestly really sad. My mom and I come here all the time, like four times a week. We’ve lived here all our lives. I hope it turns into a Vons.”
Ellen Wang contributed to this report through a partnership with SCNG and the Los Angeles Chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association.
