Explore Pasadena’s Colorado Blvd & Route 66

PART 2 - SIERRA MADRE BLVD. to HILL AVE.

At the corner of Sierra Madre Blvd., you'll find another historic neon sign atop Fedde Furniture, a family business that has been operating since 1937. They survived both the Great Depression and the recent pandemic and still going strong. It’s cool to think that many of the collectible and trendy original mid-century modern pieces now found at the Rose Bowl Flea Market likely once graced their showroom floors.

Right after Grand Oaks Ave. you’ll spot the the recently restored Surplus neon sign (1956) on the South side. This is a beautiful and beloved relic from the Route 66 era. Originally created for C&H Sales Co., an electronics surplus store that has since closed, the sign remains a vibrant piece of local history. Thanks to the property owner for preserving this colorful, officially designated historic landmark. It sure puts a smile on my face every time I drive by!

The groovy Liquor Mart sign at the corner of San Marino Ave. always catches my eye as I drive by. I’m not sure of any historical significance of this one as it seems like it’s a reproduction or variation of an original neon sign. But hey, it’s just cool to just include a fun modern sign on Route 66. Also, don’t miss the smaller Sahara Restaurant neon sign that might be from the 80’s? I’ll need to get better at photography to try to get some photos of these signs all lit up at night.

Cameron’s Seafood (1985) unfortunately closed after the pandemic, but its neon sign was salvaged and now resides at the nearby Museum of Neon Art in Los Angeles. The restaurant interior was featured in the 1989 classic teen rom com, "Say Anything." Although there were recent discussions about turning the location into an In-N-Out, those plans seem to have fallen through. Only time will tell what the future holds for this corner lot.

The Draper Studio of Modes, a remodeled Art Deco building from 1948, was rebranded to give a more modern feel to the apparel company that originally opened on this site in 1928. Billed as “Southern California’s Smartest Apparel Shop,” the location is frequently highlighted in local architecture guides. The building's pink palette also seems to appeal to the millennial crowd today. These days, the location has been taken over by Rose City Dental Arts.

I couldn't resist documenting a great Psychic neon sign right next door. It's amazing how big the psychic industry is today—bringing in around $2.3 billion in revenue. What's even more surprising is that it's growing even more, thanks to increasing acceptance and normalization through digital platforms. Online consultations have become a major source of income for psychics, and classic signs like these at physical locations might slowly disappear over time.

A quick food recommendation if you’re getting hungry is Top Restaurant that blends Indonesian, Hawaiian, and barbeque cuisines. It’s located in an unassuming strip mall that has signage straight out of the 80-90’s era. Don’t have high expectations for the ambience but their Indonesian fried chicken is so crispy! They’ve been featured on the Eater Pasadena list a few times as well. It seems like they were ahead of their time with the SEO game with a name like '“Top Restaurant.” Don’t forget to grab a donut to go next door at Mr. Goods Donut.

The Saga Motor Hotel has remained largely unchanged since it was built in 1959. Designed by local architect Harold Zook, the Saga was crafted to catch the eye of passing motorists with its striking neon sign in Moorish-inspired script, decorative concrete block elements, and towering palm trees surrounding the sparkling pool. It perfectly embodies the iconic mid-century Southern California motel aesthetic.

Across the street from the hotel, you’ll find the large campus of Pasadena City College, which celebrated its own centennial in 2024. Notable Pasadena City College alumni include Nick Nolte, Jackie Robinson, David Lee Roth (Van Halen), and Octavia Butler. After some rain, you might spot the mirror pool slightly filled, though it drains quickly due to leaks. Tree roots along the pool have caused damage, worsened by water feeding the roots. Despite this, students still gather around the empty structure. There have been discussions about repairing the pool, but the idea is controversial, as some feel it may not be the best use of school resources for purely aesthetic reasons.

The photo above is from the 50’s shot by local Pasadena photographer J. Allen Hawkins. He opened his first studio in Pasadena in 1931 and worked consistently for the next forty-plus years, photographing a wide spectrum of local life and area institutions. As the official photographer of the Tournament of Roses, he photographed every parade and football game from 1935 to 1975. These photos and tens of thousands more are preserved in collections at the Huntington Library, Pasadena Public Library, and Pasadena Museum of History.

Right across from the mirror pool on Marion Ave., you'll find one of the few public art murals in this area—painted by yours truly. We donated this Art Deco-style mural to the community in 2023 right before the Rose Parade. Titled Pasadena Sunset Symphony, the piece showcases Pasadena City Hall bathed in the warm hues of a serene sunset, with the San Gabriel Mountains in the background. Green parrots flap their wings in the distance among tall palm tree silhouettes, while vibrant oranges in the foreground pay homage to the historic citrus industry that helped shape the Crown City into what it is today. The Greetings Tour project actually have a series of collectible murals along Route 66 from Chicago all the way to Santa Monica. If interested, you can see a whole post about the mural here. PS - If you are into boba tea, check out Bubble Puff & Tea Cafe where the mural is located and try their authentic style egg waffles from Taiwan and Hong Kong.

PART 1 >> Rosemead Blvd. to Sierra Madre Blvd.

PART 3 << HILL AVE. TO LAKE AVE.

PART 4 << LAKE AVE. to Arroyo Pkwy.