Shine On Round-Up: Week 1
We are delighted to usher in this holiday season with Shine On, Support Local, a special reminder to support your community by shopping and dining at local businesses. The benefits of shopping local make a big difference in our neighborhood. An average of 67 cents of every dollar spent at a local business ends up staying in our community, but the impact does not stop there. For every ten jobs at a small business, another seven are supported in the local community. Local businesses are also twice as likely to donate to nonprofits and causes. Together, we can help ensure that our favorite places are supported through these difficult times and keep Pasadena shining!
All month long, we’re shining a light on our Village businesses and had connected with them to see how they were doing. We’ve asked them how they’ve been staying positive during this time and what being a part of Playhouse Village means to them. Check out this week’s round-up featuring BAN SUP Refill, Janejira Thai Bistro, Monopole Wine, Studio Metamorphosis, Jacob Maarse, Salon Xia, and Aarnun Gallery.
Playhouse Village is home to a diverse range of local businesses from notable retail stores and independent restaurants to specialized fitness studios and salons, and everything in between. Click here to visit our directory of businesses and organizations in Playhouse Village.
BAN SUP Refill
25 S El Molino Ave
Kicking off our series is Cheryl, owner of the new BANS UP Refill. The shop specializes in eco-friendly alternatives to common household items and gifts. With a mission to help reduce dependency on single-use plastics, they are also a refill station for shampoo, soaps, and conditioners.
Cheryl enjoys interacting with Village residents to educate them about waste-free products and to help them envision how that can be applied to their daily lives. She has kept herself motivated during COVID-19 and recent fires by knowing “the more people I can help reduce plastic, the more I can help climate change.”
Additionally, after learning from CalRecycle that only two plastic items are recyclable statewide, she joined efforts to ask Pasadenans to look at our waste issue. Stop by to learn more and about how you can help!
JaneJira Thai Bistro
754 E Colorado Blvd
Janejira Thai Bistro is a family effort, combining homestyle preparations and their matriarch’s recipes with quality ingredients to a deliciously welcoming experience. When Kevin opened Janejira Thai Bistro, they delighted customers and forged an unexpected community with fellow small-business owners. He shared that “during this tough year, just being able to speak to one another and give each other advice has been the push we needed to keep on moving on in 2020.”
Monopole Wine
21 S El Molino Ave
For over 10 years, Monopole Wine and owner Sally have been a part of “one big family where we all welcome and care for each other” in Playhouse Village. They appreciate being a part of the culture, diversity and history that has been established in Pasadena. The pandemic has closed their tasting bar, a treasured experience they miss sharing with the neighborhood. Still, they continue to shine on and serve our community with curbside pickup and delivery and blind-tastings to-go. Stop by and let the staff help you select a bottle to enjoy and raise a glass to our local businesses in the Village.
Studio Metamorphosis
675 E Green St
Owners Jen and Alex have been keeping their shine on by remembering what they have and not by looking for what is missing. “We’ve always said our community is stronger together!” Though it has been challenging, they have been leaning on each other and their incredible and strong community that cheers them on daily. Thinking outside of the box, they’ve kept their Morph community connected with monthly challenges and on-track with online and outdoor classes.
Local businesses are twice as likely to donate to community causes and Studio Metamorphosis is a shining example! The studio further transforms lives with charity classes, fundraising, and by bringing awareness to the Starlight Foundation, Feeding America, and Color of Change.
Jacob Maarse Florist & Home Decor
655 E Green St
Sending a gift or arrangement from local businesses doesn’t just brighten up your loved one’s day, but keeps the spirits of the businesses shining too. The team at Jacob Maarse Florists and owner Hank are so thrilled to be joy-makers, especially this year. “Just knowing that we help brighten peoples day keeps us motivated and going forward to a brighter future.” Looking back to when the family business has moved to their current location 40 years ago to now, Hanks shares how the Village has fostered a real sense of community. They continue to be active in local charities and organizations as donors to Hillsides Home for Children, Kidspace, Foothill Family, Pasadena Symphony, KPCC, and more.
Salon Xia
686 Union St, Suite 170
Facing the struggles of COVID-19, Salon Xia owners Claudia and Mark we’re encouraged by the evident strength and compassion throughout small businesses in our community. They couldn’t wait to get back into their salon sharing “our clientele is what keeps us motivated to come into the salon and do what we love everyday.” Since being back open, they have loved catching up with our clients and fixing that “quarantine hair.” “We are very thankful for the constant support throughout these trying times and look forward to many more years in the Playhouse Village.”
Aarnun Gallery
603 E Green St
Supporting businesses like Aarnun Gallery not only help fellow artists continue to create and have a home for their work, but also make our community shine with the beautiful art they share. Gallery owner Marcia has been pushing her creative energies in rearranging her gallery to feature the new art produced during this time. “It keeps it interesting for me and our customers who come looking for art, framing, and even just a friendly person to talk to. It works both ways!” When asked about her favorite thing about the neighborhood, Marcia gushes about the “small town in a real city” atmosphere underscored by the mix of beautiful streets and architecture. The feelings are shared as her customers and visitors love it too!
Stay tuned next week for our next round up of businesses. Follow our Instagram and Facebook for daily features.