San Gabriel : City to Buy Restaurant

The City Council last week voted to spend $1.295 million in county funds for Panchito’s Mexican Restaurant and its parking lot to provide a park-and-ride facility for bus commuters along Mission Drive.

A neighboring parcel with a medical office will be bought for the project with $220,000 from county transportation funds.

The city plans to keep a restaurant on the property, City Administrator P. Michael Paules said. However, it will not be called Panchito’s because the current operator retains the right to use the name.

The restaurant, built on the site of San Gabriel’s first City Hall, will probably be remodeled with private money and leased rather than demolished, Paules said.

After escrow closes on the properties, the city will use up to $400,000 in county money to revamp the parking lot and landscape it to blend with improvements planned for the surrounding Mission district, Paules said.

Besides easing congestion at a commuter lot at Del Mar Avenue and Norwood Place, the new facility can be used by patrons of San Gabriel Civic Auditorium, Paules said.

In other action, the council created a commission to advise the city on issues of concern to young people. San Gabriel residents 14 to 18 years old can get an application for a seat on the commission at the city administrator’s office.