Monrovia’s Future Vroman’s—er, not
Monrovia’s Future Vroman’s, originally uploaded by Living in Monrovia.
Locals are were finally getting the bookstore they’ve been pining for! What a nice job in renovating this former eyesore of a building.
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Is it for sure going to be Vroman’s? Last I heard in the brouhaha was that that the Crown City Brewery was moving in. If there were two things I’d hoped for in this town, they were a bookstore and a brew pub. Now if they could combine them… heaven!
YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
Is it really FINALLY happening. Oh I have been waiting for this day for about five years now. I used to work at the Main Vroman’s in Pasadena and I miss it so much. It would be GREAT if this really happens. WOO HOO
The city web confirmed they are working with Vromans to bring them here for that spot. I am elated to see them instead of some sanitized box like Border’s.
I’ve heard different stories about the brewery over the year. Given the variations floating about this is one I’d ignore until something official is announced by some business, the chamber or a confirmation from the city a license has been pulled.
Anyone notice that the hot dog place Moon Doggies is already history?
Until I see Vroman’s sign out in the front, then I’ll believe. But I sure hope it’s a Vroman’s. Rated the best book store in America.
What doesn’t make any sense, are there that many people living in the area who actually read books ? Take a look at Monrovia’s library. How many news paper racks do you see in Monrovia ? Off hand I only know of one place in Monrovia where you can purchase the Wall Street Journal and the Orange County Register. What does that tell you about who lives in the area ?
If any decent book store open in Monrovia, odds are they will get a few hundred dollars from me in a year.
As for Crown City Brewery. If you remember, about ten years ago Crown City Brewery wanted to open a restaurant on Myrtle. Because the city had a anti alcohol policy back then, the Monrovia Planing Commission basically told Crown City Brewery to take a hike. And that’s what they did and opened a sausage restaurant in Sierra Mad re.
The thing was back then, there were four to six other restaurants in Old Town Pasadena who were also thinking about expanding and opening new restaurants in Old Town Monrovia. But once Monrovia Planningcommission booted Crown City Brewery from Monrovia, the word traveled through out the restaurateurs in America that Monrovia was business unfriendly towards restaurants that served alcohol.
Anyone who has ever been to the Crown City Brewery in Pasadena, or ate at the former Market City Cafe in Old Town Pasadena or Ruth’s Chris Steak House know you went their not to get drunk (hard to for some city planning commissioners to believe ) but they were their to eat good food. And Crown City Brewery had good food.
But I would love seeing a book store in Monrovia’s Old Town district, And a Crown City Brewery on Myrtle would fill the city’s tax coffers.
As for the photo of the building in question. It looks to small to become a Varmon’s or a micro brewery restaurant. And you say it’s been an eye sore ? Those cheap looking street lamps on Myrtle are an eye sore.
I was looking at an old photo of Myrtle Ave taken during the late 50’s or early 60’s. Now those street lamps that were on Myrtle Ave. back then would have been perfect today. Who in hell signed off on what we have today on Myrtle ?
Apacherat,
It seems you have a longer history here in town than I do. I know that originally Monrovia was a “dry” city and the city founders discouraged any businesses that served alcohol. I think we’ve moved on since then.
Re: “eye sore” I meant the dirty white stucco slab that this nice brick building used to be…I think it looks great now. I think it’s quite large. My photo doesn’t do it justice. It was a quick iPhone snap.
Pasadena also use to be a dry town. But ten years ago, some thought Monrovia was still a dry town.
As for the brick building, I wish all of the buildings in the Monrovia Old Town district had brick facades. You would think the Monrovia planning commission would have made it mandatory.
Re: Crown City Brewery in Pasadena, they lost their lease where they have been located on South Raymond for twenty years.
But I rather have a Vramons before a Crown City Brewery.
Fortunately, Apacherat, I don’t think you will have to choose. Plans are in the works for a Crown City Brewery as well.
According to the papers, the Vroman’s deal fell through.
Unfortunately, the Vroman’s deal has been officially “postponed” according to
the company’s board of directors. They cite difficult economic times as the reason.
I was in the store yesterday and a couple of clerks recognized me and expressed their disappointment at not having a store in Old Town Monrovia. As for Crown City, they are supposedly going into the old Kustner’s Pharmacy building in the middle of the 400 block of Myrtle. It also has a new brick facade and large widows on the front. Haven’t heard any more about that project recently, but workers have been there this week.
I’m sad about Vroman’s, but Crown City has awesome burgers.
Sorry to bust the bubble, it’s confirmed the deal fell through due to the economy. Vromans will not be expanding. Sorry, I was hoping they would come here as well. Brew Pub would be great too!
Well, I was getting excited about the Vromans - what a disappointment….
I think the City should get their act in gear and do whatever it takes to get them in there, even if it means free rent for a year or two and heck, throw in the buildout costs! It’s either that or have it vacant for 3 more years. I would think they would at least want the sales tax revenues and business fees. And that would provide an fantastic incentive for Vromans to expand and become a mainstay of Monrovia. The way the economy is going and the actions of landlords is going to turn Old Town into a ghost town AGAIN. It desperately needs the influence of a bigger player.