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Monrovia Travel is Not Closing, Merely Shifting Gears
Business Aug 27, 2020
A mainstay on the corner of Myrtle and Lime avenues, Monrovia Travel is going virtual. – Courtesy photo / Facebook, @oldtownmonrovia
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MonroviaTravel, a well-known commodity on Myrtle Avenue for more than 70 years, isclosing its brick and mortar store front. But take heart, COVID-19 has notforced another small business to shut, but rather to reorganize. Thebusiness will continue online and via the phone.
According toDenise Harvey, who owns the travel agency, “Most of our business is done onlinealready with phone calls as well. Very few people actually come in.”
And so, shehas decided to switch to telecommuting and marketing. The agents will allcontinue at the same phone number and email but will work remotely rather thanon Myrtle Avenue. Agents will still be available to meet with clients inperson, at their request.
Saying that shehad been considering this move for some time, Harvey added that while thecoronavirus crackdown had impacted her business from the travel perspective, shehas kept up with work. There are few people on Myrtle Avenue, but theyhave rarely had a lot of walk-in business, so the switch seemed timely toher.
“There hasbeen one positive aspect of the shutdowns,” Harvey quipped. “I have neverbeen able to find a parking place so easily.
The Harveyfamily has owned the business since 1985 with Denise taking over the reins uponthe retirement of her parents. But according to Steve Baker, the Monrovia cityhistorian, the earliest listing for “Monrovia Travel” in the city directorieswas 1950. Harvey believes that this business was a successor to other suchagencies. She had been told that the original agency was a delivery sitefor hay and sold trolley and train tickets back as early as 1929.
“I am reallypositive about this change,” Harvey said. “Most of my customers have beencoming back to me for years.”
She pointedout that having an agent in these days of cancellations and cutbacks has beenan advantage to many people. “Having someone who knows how to deal with thesystem can save people in the long run.”
