Best of Shopping | | pasadenaweekly. com – Pasadena Weekly
Best Bridal/Tux Shop
Panache Bridals of Pasadena
82 S. Fair Oaks Avenue
This shop will help brides live with a little more panache. Panache Bridals carries top national and international brands and offers a full-service bridal gown shopping experience. Besides bridal attire, it has accessories, shoes and evening wear.
Reader Recommended
Lovely Bride , 87 E. Green Street
Connie Tao Designs , 23 N. Mentor Avenue
Best Self Storage
Arroyo Parkway Personal Storage
411 S. Arroyo Parkway
Arroyo Parkway Storage will keep clients’ goodies for safekeeping in any situation.
Reader Recommended
Public Storage , Multiple locations
Storbox Self Storage & The Wine Grotto , 2233 E. Foothill Boulevard
Best Electronics/Cameras
Samy’s Camera
1759 E. Colorado Boulevard
Samy’s Digital camera has is a photographer’s dream, stocking cameras, lenses, videocams, film or lighting. It offers rentals for dabblers or for those who want to check things out before buying. It also offers professional custom printing services and pre-owned gear. Looking to learn more? Classes are offered by the experts.
Reader Recommended
Audio Elements , 117 Union Street
JD Audio Visual , 77 N. Altadena Drive
Best Farmers Market
Pasadena Certified Farmers’ Marketplace
363 E. Villa Street
Looking for fresh produce or jams and jellies? On Tuesdays, drop by Villa Parke Center (about 13 vendors), or on Saturday mornings (about 60) stop by Victory Park for the Pasadena Farmers’ Market. There is fresh fruit, vegetables, plants and flowers.
Reader Recommended
South Pasadena (Thursdays) , 920 Meridian Method, South Pasadena
www.southpasadenafarmersmarket.org
Altadena Farmers (Wednesdays) , 587 W. Palm Street, Altadena
BEST FLOWER SHOP
Jacob Maarse Floral Design
655 E. Green Road
Located in a renovated Cadillac dealership in Pasadena’s historic Playhouse District, John Maarse Floral Design has served Pasadena since 1966. It creates arrangements for weddings, funerals, events and home décor. It offers a variety of flowers, including silk flowers.
READER RECOMMENDED
Duran’s Flowers , 315 S. Arroyo Parkway
The Flowerman , 2450 E. Foothill Boulevard
Best Furniture/Accessories Store
Fedde’s
2350 E. Colorado Boulevard
Fedde’s is a Pasadena institution. It’s been in business since 1937 and is celebrating its 85th anniversary. Want new furniture? Check out its quality sofas, sectionals, chairs, recliners and other furnishings. Many items are available for immediate delivery. Its motto is: quality home furnishings, exceptional savings.
Readers Recommended
Sofa U Love , 111 W. Green Street
Crate & Barrel , 60 W. Co Boulevard
Best Local Jewelry
Altadena Watch plus Jewelry
1920 Lake Avenue, Altadena
www.facebook.com/altadenawatchco
Altadena Watch and Jewelry store is the place to go for intimate deliberations over jewelry or to get repairs. Lost an earring or inherited something you want to match? Altadena Watch and Jewelry is the place to go. It not only fixes jewelry and watches, but it can design them. It’s a little treasure of a shop.
Viewer Recommended
Baldwin Jewelry , 15 Kersting Court, Sierra Madre
www.facebook.com/baldwinjewelers
Estate Jewelers , 700 Fair Oaks Opportunity, South Pasadena
BEST LOCAL BOOKSTORE/NEWSSTAND
Vroman’s Bookstore
695 E. Colorado Boulevard
Vroman’s Bookstore was founded in 1894 by Adam Clark Vroman after he sold his beloved book collection to open a store. It is the oldest independent bookstore in Southern California. The store is famous for holding more than 400 community events each year and its charitable program, Vroman’s Give Back, which has raised over $783, 000 in support of literacy, the homeless and animal welfare.
READER RECOMMENDED
Once Upon a Time Book shop , 2207 Honolulu Avenue, Montrose
Book Alley , 1252 E. Colorado Boulevard
Best Local Men’s Clothing
Banana Republic
150 W. Colorado Boulevard
Banana Republic was founded in 1978 and is owned simply by Gap Inc. The upscale retailer sells versatile, timeless styles of men’s and women’s clothing and accessories carefully designed with high-quality materials.
Reader Recommended
P. M. Jacoy Menswear , 2650 Mission Street
Mark Piscitelli , 589 E. Green Street
www.markpiscitellimensfashions.com
Best Local Pet Store
My Pet Garden
2245 E. Colorado Chaussee
Owned by a former Los Angeles zookeeper Joel Tatum, My Pet Garden’s core philosophy revolves around nutrition. It offers dog and cat grooming; training; dog day care; boarding; and a range of food, toys and supplies. Its groomers are all a part of a free dog grooming program called Every Dog Has Its Day, which increases adoption chances.
Reader Suggested
Steve’s Pets , 2395 Lake Avenue
I Dig My Dog , 2160 E. Foothill Boulevard
Best Local Shoe Shop
Run With Us
235 N. Lake Avenue
Run With Us was established in early 2000 to address the community’s lack of a store specializing in running. It boasts a large staff with over 110 years of combined experience in the running industry, with firsthand knowledge upon injuries, training programs plus marathon racing. Customers can expect a high-quality experience when shopping for the perfect running shoes.
Reader Recommended
DSW , 300 Electronic. Colorado Boulevard
Lucha’s Comfort Shoes , 921 Fair Oaks Avenue
BEST LOCAL SPORTING GOODS
REI Co-Op
214 N. Santa Anita Avenue, Arcadia
REI has been in business since 1938, when Lloyd and Mary Anderson and a group of 21 of their climbing friends became frustrated with the lack of high quality climbing gear and decided to source their own directory from Austria. Since then, REI has been a reliable place to find quality outdoor gear. Because they remain a membership service, 70% of their annual profits are invested back into the outdoor community.
READER RECOMMENDED
Run With Us , 235 N. Lake Avenue
Big 5 , 3719 E. Co Boulevard
Ideal Local Women’s Clothing
Sidecca
1389 E. Washington Boulevard
For a look that is quirky and shows off every individual style, Sidecca is a perfect stop. The whimsical, retro boutique has a selection of creative women’s clothing, shoes, accessories, décor and gifts. Sidecca’s goal is to give its customers an enjoyable shopping experience that inspires them to take fashion risks and be confident.
Reader Recommended
Banana Republic , 150 W. Colorado Boulevard
April Blooms Boutique , 14 E. Bellevue Drive
Best Shopping Destination
Old Pasadena
23 E. Colorado Boulevard
Old Pas is 22 blocks of refurbished late-19th and early 20th century architecture. Locals and visitors encounter many opportunities to shop and dine, as there are many retailers and restaurants in its open-air plazas plus Colorado Boulevard.
Reader Recommended
Westfield Santa Anita Mall , 400 S. Baldwin Avenue
South Lake Method , 201 S. Lake Opportunity
Best Nursery
Armstrong Garden Centers
352 E. Glenarm Street
Having served California communities for 130 years, Armstrong Garden Centers has a plethora of gardening and landscape experience in our unique climate. The company strives to provide the customers the best horticultural knowledge and the widest range of high-quality plants and garden products.
Audience Recommended
Bellefontaine Nursery , 838 S. Fair Oaks Avenue
San Gabriel Nursery & Florist , 632 S. San Gabriel Chaussee
Best Local Toy Store
The Dinosaur Farm
1510 Mission Road
Established in 1994, The Dinosaur Farm dubs itself as “not your ordinary toy store. ” While it carries items unrelated to dinosaurs and traditional staples, the shop is known for its wide range of dinosaur toys, books, games, costumes and more. Its online store also features nothing but prehistoric creatures.
Reader Recommended
San Marino Toy & Book Shoppe , 2476 Huntington Drive
Vroman’s Bookstore , 695 E. Colorado Boulevard
IDEAL ANTIQUES
Pasadena Antique Mall
309 E. Green Street
www.thepasadenaantiquemall.com
The Pasadena Antique Mall boasts a wide range of inventory from antique furniture to Disney memorabilia. If you can’t find what you are looking for, it offers a “wish list” feature that adds your own items to a dealers’ list. It can then search its inventory and the store’s buyers can keep an eye out for them on acquisition trips.
READER SUGGESTED
Huntington Collection , 2670 E. Colorado Boulevard
www.huntingtonhealth.org/community/ huntington-collection
Pasadena Antique Center , 480 S. Fair Oak trees Avenue
BEST RESALE/VINTAGE
Huntington Collection
2670 E. Colorado Boulevard
www.huntingtonhealth.org/community/ huntington-collection
The Huntington Collection is a resale shop benefiting the Huntington Senior Care Network, a program that helps older and disabled adults stay healthy and independent. It is a small part of the larger organization Huntington Health, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai.
READER RECOMMENDED
Full Circle Thrift , 2245 River Avenue, Altadena
Meowmeowz , 2423 E. Colorado Boulevard
Best Appliances
Snyder Diamond
432 H. Arroyo Parkway
Snyder Diamond is a family-owned and -operated business that was established in Los Angeles in 1949. Its three locations feature a large array of decorative plumbing, fine hardware and brand-name appliances at reasonable prices for its local community.
Reader Recommended
George’s Kitchen & Bath , 99 Palmetto Drive
Ultra Bathroom & Kitchen/Friedmans Home Experience , 318 Electronic. Huntington Drive
www.friedmanshomeexperience.com
Best Outdoor/Patio Furniture Retailer
Fishbecks Patio Center
a hundred and fifty S. Raymond Avenue
A tradition in Pasadena since 1899, Fishbecks Patio Center is one of the region’s largest outlets for outdoor plus casual furniture. Its retro brick warehouse showcases trendy wood, metal and wicker items perfect for outdoor living in Southern California.
Reader Recommended
Patioworld , 520 E. Co Boulevard
Terra Outdoor Living , 422 S. Lake Avenue
Best Flea Market
Rose Bowl Flea Market
1001 Rose Bowl Drive
The Rose Bowl Flea Market is one of the most well-attended and vendor-profitable flea markets in the nation. Occurring on the second Sunday of every month, the market offers a range of high-quality vendors that not only attracts shoppers of all ages but worldwide attention.
Readers Recommended
Pasadena Community College Flea Market , 1570 E. Colorado Boulevard