La Cañada History: Trader Joe’s opens in town; automobile vandals strike

Ten Years Ago

Ten months after a retaining wall on the north side of Foothill Boulevard collapsed, traffic near the Crescenta-Cañada YMCA was still being diverted while the city awaited approvals to replace it from agencies including the Federal Highway Administration and Caltrans, according to then-Public Works Director Steve Castellanos. The wall that gave way had been built only a couple of years earlier, but because it was built during a prolonged drought, it had inadequate drainage, Castellanos said, and became compromised by groundwater. He had hopes that work on a replacement wall with an appropriate drainage system would get underway in the spring of 2006.

Twenty Years Ago

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the new Trader Joe’s market at the Foothill Promenade center, which was built on the former site of Foothill Volkswagen. Businesses already open in the center included Blockbuster Video and Starbucks Coffee. Two others preparing to open stores there were Super Crown Books and Petco. It was the 76th location for Trader Joe’s. The first customer through its door was La Cañadan Bob Behlendorf.

Thirty Years Ago

Only 50 La Cañada voters turned out for a candidates’ forum held in advance of the November 1985 La Cañada Unified School District Governing Board election. Four candidates were vying for three open seats.

Forty Years Ago

Anne Elizabeth Martin, 18, of Flintridge was named the 1976 Tournament of Roses Rose Queen. The 1974 graduate of La Cañada High School was then a student at Pasadena City College and a part-time hostess at Reflections restaurant in La Cañada.

Fifty Years Ago

“La Cañada reeled under its heaviest one-night assault by automobile vandals last weekend with 12 parked cars being hit by a roving group of thrill-crazed youths in a car and armed with air guns,” the Valley Sun reported in late October 1965. Besides the parked cars, two houses and some outdoor lights were also targeted in the spree. The total value of property loss was set at $966 (more than $7,200 in today’s buying power).

Sixty Years Ago

Marsh’s Village Pharmacy opened its doors on Oct. 27, 1955, as the latest addition to the La Cañada Village Shopping Center that was then anchored by a Ralphs grocery store (today the Ross Dress for Less store). Owner Dick Marsh invited the public to see the modern drugstore featuring more than 20,000 different items in 5,000 square feet of floor space.

Compiled from the Valley Sun archives by Carol Cormaci