South Pasadena Eatery Scene Is Growing

Corner of Mission Street & Fair Oaks Avenue (Photo – ColoradoBlvd.net)

A quick drive by the old Citizens Bank Building at 901 Fair Oaks reveals improvements that will accommodate five new tenant spaces.

By News Desk

Tenants will include Starbucks, Chipotle and The Habit Burger.  Starbucks which was looking for a larger store to replace the one at the Well Fargo branch across the street, found in the renovated bank a larger and updated café, with expansive outdoor seating.

The Kutzer Company, the firm redeveloping 901 Fair Oaks, has divulged a few of the many challenges of converting an older bank building into a modern, multi-tenant project, but the most interesting tidbit was what to do with, the vault. It was built like a super-fortified bunker, with a dense mesh of steel rebar that provides structural support for the high ceilings and clear spans of the original bank building. Rather than trying to remove it, Dahl Architects and Krakower & Assoc. Engineering, figured out a way to reuse the vault as a back of house work area and restrooms for Starbucks.  Johanna Hankamer, South Pasadena’s Planning and Community Development Director, quipped: “So, if you have to use the restroom during an earthquake…you can rest assured!”

Chipotle is a well-known eatery that provides freshly-prepared food with healthy, responsibly-sourced ingredients.  And The Habit, founded in 1969 in Santa Barbara, has grown from being a popular burger and malt stand for surfers into a restaurant company with a passionate national following.

All three businesses, Chipotle, Starbucks, and The Habit, are scheduled to open in August 2020.

Source: City of South Pasadena