“G&K Burgers to receive recognition as an Arcadia Business Icon”
Matt McSweeny, who puts the “Matt” in Matt Denny’s Ale House & Restaurant, will discuss the revitalization of Downtown Arcadia as this month’s guest speaker along with Jane Garzona on Thursday, Nov. 20, at the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Networking Breakfast, sponsored by Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary.
G&K Burgers will also receive recognition as an Arcadia Business Icon Presented by the Chamber in partnership with the Arcadia Historical Society.
Join your industry peers for a morning of breakfast and networking from 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. in the Sunset Room at the Santa Anita Golf Course. McSweeny will discuss the progress of the Arcadia Improvement Association business district with Executive Director Garzona, including a summary of the mission to revitalize the area centered at Huntington Drive and First Avenue that includes the new Gold Line light rail train station and transit plaza, as well as scheduled events and promotions such as the recent dedication of the Thoroughbred Racing Walk of Champions, the monthly Carcadia @Route 66, the upcoming Christmas Market, a potential Farmer’s Market next spring, and regular entertainment by local businesses such the Arcadia Blues Club, La Luna Negra, and Matt Denny’s.
G&K Burgers, established in 1965 at 4466 E. Live Oak Avenue, will become the latest business to receive the Arcadia Business Icon tribute. The shop not only features a diverse menu of tradition favorites such as delicious cheeseburgers and fried egg and ham sandwiches on rye bread, it also showcases a wall collection of license plates from every state and Canadian provinces, as well as fun historic photos of the evolution of the popular hangout. Current owner Spiro Vagenas says his father William bought the shop formerly called Burger Q from Tom Zapala, who named it after his children Gene and Karen. William leased it to several owners over more than a decade, three of whom Spiro worked for beginning in high school in 1982 before he took over management of the eatery about 17 years ago.
As always, attendees of the Networking Breakfast (third Thursday of each month), sponsored by Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary, not only enjoy a great breakfast buffet and valuable networking with dozens of others, but also introduce themselves one at a time with a 30-second “elevator pitch.” In addition, they have a chance to win one of multiple gifts donated by members and attendees for a business card drawing, one of which is a free three-minute Business Spotlight, this month by last month’s winner Victor Buell of Beacon Media.
Tickets to the breakfast, which runs from 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m., are $20 in advance ($25 at the door) and discounted to $15 for Chamber members who pay at least two days in advance ($20 at the door for Chamber members). No charge for those holding a Chamber All Access Pass.
Tickets: 626-447-2159 or in the “Shop” area at www.ArcadiaCaChamber.org, or at Chamber office, 388 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia, during regular business hours.
