Indies & big brands · Colorado Blvd from about Pasadena Ave/De Lacey Ave east to Arroyo Pkwy
Old Pasadena
Colorado Blvd and the alleys.
Pasadena's historic downtown, where national brands line Colorado Blvd and a run of independent vintage, record and gift shops fills the side streets and brick alleys. It suits a full walking afternoon for anyone who wants both chains and one-off finds.
Colorado Blvd · Vintage & records · Metro A Line
Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- In our directory
- 24 shopseach one verified
- Where
- Colorado Blvd from about Pasadena Ave/De Lacey Ave east to Arroyo PkwyIndies & big brands
- Right now
- Typical hours11am–8pm
- Getting here
- Metro A LineMemorial Park station, 125 E Holly St, on the district's north edge; Del Mar is the next stop south.
Insider guide
Shopping Old Pasadena.
The story
Old Pasadena is Pasadena's historic downtown. National brands line Colorado Blvd, and a run of independent vintage, record and gift shops fills the side streets and brick alleys. The Old Pasadena Historic District was listed on the National Register in 1983, and by the late 1980s its Colorado Boulevard blocks were being revived.
The shopping runs along Colorado Blvd from about Pasadena Ave and De Lacey Ave east to Arroyo Pkwy, and spreads onto Fair Oaks Ave, Raymond Ave, De Lacey Ave, Holly St, Union St and Green St. The One Colorado alleys (Douglas, Miller, Hugus and Morgan) hold some of the smallest shops. It suits a full walking afternoon for anyone who wants both chains and one-off finds.
What to Expect
Start on E Holly St, where the independents sit within a few doors of each other. Retreat sells handcrafted jewelry, candles and pottery; Commune Records (12) has new and used vinyl; AMT Vintage (16) adds new pieces every week; and Jenette Bras (18) does personal fittings for fuller busts. Gold Bug (38) sells artist-made jewelry and curiosities, Maude Woods: Artful Living (55) sets vintage furniture in room-style displays, and Mesmer Mesmer (65) mixes all-gender fashion, art, books and music.
At One Colorado, M. Andonia makes one-of-a-kind handbags in Douglas Alley, across from The Unicorn Store's toys, costumes and party goods. Store 242 hides in Morgan Alley behind Sushi Enya, mixing vintage and current clothing. On Fair Oaks Ave, Topdrawer (17 N) sells pens, notebooks and leather goods, Anthropologie fills a historic brick building at 35 N, and Homage (100 N) stocks artisan studio wares. On Colorado Blvd, 2nd Street (113 W) is the Japanese chain's premium resale, NEO Pasadena (33B E) is a basement shop for sneakers and LA streetwear, and Crown City Loan & Jewelry (65 E) sells estate jewelry and vintage guitars in an 1899 building. On Union St, Clothes Heaven (111 E) does designer consignment and Audio Element (117 E) runs hi-fi listening demos.
Best Time to Visit
Most shops are retail storefronts open daily, but the district directory doesn't post hours and neither do the shops we list, so call ahead if one stop matters. For a mid-shop break, Indiana Colony is a market hall of small food and retail vendors with seating.
If You Only Have an Hour
Get off the Metro A Line at Memorial Park station and work along Holly St: Mesmer Mesmer (65), Gold Bug (38), then AMT Vintage (16) and Commune Records (12). Finish at Topdrawer.
Where to Eat
Russell's is the breakfast and weekend brunch stop, with croque madame, Belgian waffles and omelets. Union, a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand, serves squid ink lumache with lobster and torchetti with pork ragu; book on Resy. Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery, in the MICHELIN Guide's selection, is a cheese shop and restaurant; order the loaded baked potato dumplings or cornbread eclairs. Thaim does Thai street food like mushroom larb and Osawa serves sushi and shabu shabu.
The directory
24 shops, all in one place.
Tap a shop or a dot on the map to see it.
Vintage4 places
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Vintage clothing, accessories and jewelry sourced across the country and abroad, with new pieces added to the racks every week in a small Holly Street storefront.
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Clothing shop mixing vintage and current fashion with music and pop-up events by local artists. Look for it in Morgan Alley behind Sushi Enya.
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Premium secondhand clothing from the Japanese resale chain, which lists this as its second US location. Racks mix designer, streetwear and everyday labels.
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Consignment shop for gently worn designer womenswear, a few blocks north of Colorado Blvd on Union Street near Audio Element.
Specialty4 places
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Lingerie boutique specializing in bras for fuller busts, with personal fittings by staff. Its sister shop Flattery covers smaller cup sizes.
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Pens, notebooks, leather goods, eyewear and art supplies for creative people, most designed in-house in Boston and Tokyo. Located in the One Colorado block.
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Hi-fi audio shop with listening demos of high-end components and in-home setup and consulting services, on Union Street north of Colorado Blvd.
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Art supply store from the family-owned chain, stocking paint, paper, drawing tools and studio supplies for everyone from kids to working artists.
Fashion3 places
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Basement-level boutique below Colorado Blvd focused on sneakers, hats, vintage clothing and small Los Angeles streetwear brands.
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Clothing, accessories, gifts, home decor and a kitchen section inside a historic brick building at One Colorado, with a sale room on site.
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Brand store for the outdoor label's technical shells, layers and packs, with product guidance and community events such as clinics and run clubs.
Gifts2 places
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Artisan gift shop in the Shops on Holly with a focus on handcrafted jewelry, plus candles, cards, journals, wall art, pottery and leather goods.
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Independent gift and jewelry shop focused on artisan studio wares and handmade goods, with gift wrapping offered at the counter.
Boutiques2 places
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Design-focused shop with all-gender fashion, jewelry, footwear, art, beauty, books and music, plus a reservable event studio. Also home to the youth arts nonprofit Mesmerized.
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Handmade, one-of-a-kind handbags and accessories by a designer who works with European fabrics and vintage finds. Tucked into Douglas Alley at One Colorado.
Food & drink2 places
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Cheese shop and restaurant in a former fire station stable on Green Street, selling cheeses and provisions to take home alongside the dining room.
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Historic market hall of independent food and retail vendors with coffeehouse-style seating; vendors include Pressed Juicery and Wanderlust Creamery.
Records & music1 place
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Independent record store with new and used vinyl across many genres, plus a small shelf of music, art and DIY books. Two doors from AMT Vintage on Holly Street.
Galleries1 place
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Gallery and cabinet-of-curiosities shop selling rare and unusual jewelry, clothing, home pieces and gifts made by contemporary artists.
Home1 place
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Furniture and gift shop set up in room-style displays, mixing upscale home decor with vintage furniture and art-minded gifts.
Kids1 place
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Gift and party shop in Douglas Alley stocked with collectibles, costumes, toys, art kits, party goods and seasonal holiday decor from many brands.
Jewelry1 place
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Long-running pawn and jewelry shop in an 1899 building, selling estate jewelry, coins, electronics and vintage guitars.
Furniture1 place
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High-end furniture and home decor showroom on De Lacey Avenue with full room settings of sofas, dining tables, lighting and rugs.
Coffee1 place
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Tea room with more than 300 loose teas to buy by weight and a full afternoon tea service, on Raymond Avenue near Memorial Park.
No shops in that category here yet.
This week
In Old Pasadena this week.
Typical hours
Most shops keep the hours below.
Hours vary by individual store. Always check with specific retailers.
Eat, drink, stay
Between shops, close by.
Top restaurants nearby
All of Eat →- Russell'sAmerican diner / bistro · Diner in One Colorado on Fair Oaks Ave known for breakfast and weekend brunch: croque madame, Belgian waffles and omelets, plus burgers and salads later.
- UnionBib GourmandItalian / pasta · Italian restaurant on Union St, half a block from Colorado Blvd. Order squid ink lumache with lobster and torchetti with pork ragu; book on Resy.
- Agnes Restaurant & CheeseryAmerican · American restaurant and cheese shop on Green St in Old Pasadena. Order the loaded baked potato dumplings, cornbread eclairs and a root beer float.
- OsawaJapanese · Japanese restaurant on Raymond Ave a block north of Colorado Blvd. Order the sushi combination special or the shabu shabu.
- ThaimThai · Thai street-food restaurant on Union St in One Colorado. Order the mushroom larb, fish balls, egg tofu and the spicy seafood noodle hot pot.
- Dos BesosSpanish · Spanish restaurant on Union St in Old Pasadena, a block north of Colorado Blvd, serving tapas, seafood paella and sangria.
Top hotels nearby
All of Stay →- Hotel
Courtyard Los Angeles Pasadena/Old Town
Marriott Courtyard on North Fair Oaks Avenue, which the Old Pasadena district lists as its one hotel inside Old Pasadena.
180 N. Fair Oaks Avenue · - Hotel
Residence Inn Los Angeles Pasadena/Old Town
Extended-stay Marriott on West Rodeo Drreet; the Old Pasadena district lists it as adjacent to Old Pasadena.
21 W. Rodeo Drreet ·
Ratings are the scores saved in our directory and are not live. Check the listing for the current score.
Getting here
Parking and transit.
- PParkingPublic garages listed by the Old Pasadena district include the Schoolhouse Garage (33 E Green St), De Lacey Garage (45 S De Lacey Ave) and Marriott Public Garage (171 N Raymond Ave); regular rates are not posted on the district page. Metro A Line Memorial Park station (125 E Holly St) sits on the district's northern edge, and Del Mar station is the next stop south.
- SMetro A LineMemorial Park station, 125 E Holly St, on the district's north edge; Del Mar is the next stop south.
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