Monrovia Old Town Report: A closer look at the new lease opportunity in Old Town

By Shawn Spencer

There is prime real estate for lease in Old Town. The address of 526 S. Myrtle formerly housed the very popular House of Windsor gift shop and is now being remodeled into two separate spaces; 900 square-foot and 1760 square-foot. At $32.00 per square-foot, this triple net lease is perfect for a retail store. The owners are looking for lessees that have a sound business plan in place that are interested in being long term tenants. 

The Adamson Family area are the property owners and are lovely people. You might know them if you have ever shopped in one of their three showroom locations of Mission Tile West. Mission Tile is a family-owned business started by John and Dina Adamson and their son, Thano. They opened their business in 1984, selling handmade Mexican tiles made by Thano’s Uncle Tony. I cannot wait to see the space once the ongoing remodel is complete. I hope that the perfect tenants move in, offering something fresh and perfect for our cool little Old Town business district.

Magical things are happening at 136 E. Colorado, formerly known as Café Lumar. If you’ve been to Tito’s Market in El Monte, then you are just as excited as I am about their new soon-to-be-open location in Old Town. If you have never been, you’re in for a treat! Brandon’s recipes were passed down from his grandparents and are rich in Argentinian and Sicilian flavors. You can visit their website and get a sneak peak at their menu. Better yet, take Peck Rd. to Garvey and find out what all the fuss is about!  

MOTAB is hiring! Just kidding, i’s an unpaid gig, done out of love for Old Town. Applications were being accepted to fill a vacancy. On Tuesday, the Monrovia Old Town Advisory Board asked the City Council to extend the application deadline to March 1.  The board is responsible for making recommendations to the City Council for the purpose of marketing, promoting and overall improvement of the business district, or Old Town. Applicants must have a bona fide business in Old Town as well as a love for it, its businesses and the community that enjoys it. Applications can be found on the city’s website.

The Community Services Department shared its 2021 Year End Review, along with the many ways it enriched our community; Over 7,498 members enjoyed 197 Library programs; 48 families received $72,996 in financial assistance to support their immediate housing needs; The Community Garden hosed workshops for 141 participants and diverted 7 tons of food waste; The Monrovia Reads Mobile Literacy program provided services to 2,706 students; Received 25,772 visitors to Canyon Park in 4 months; Fed nutritious, hot lunches to 944 seniors, and so much more!  

They deserve a huge thank you. We are so lucky to have such a wonderful, not to mention award-winning team, bringing us these wonderful programs! Thank you, Community Services!

More from Monrovia Weekly