Pasadena Restaurants Face Uncertain Future After Eaton Fire

The Eaton Fire, which recently ravaged parts of Pasadena, has left many restaurant owners uncertain about their future. The blaze, which occurred just as many eateries were recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, has dealt them a heavy blow. Three owners expressed their concerns about staying in business, as customers are hesitant to dine out. Nader Kaiser, who runs Marina, a restaurant south of the 210 Freeway and three miles away from the fire, felt the impact. After closing for six days, he reopened to find very few customers. "Nobody's coming to the restaurant, " he said, highlighting the fragility of the business. Despite being far from the fire zone, the fear and uncertainty among locals have kept them away.Don Bitonti, owner of Domenico's, Pasadena's oldest Italian restaurant, had a close call. He spent the night of the fire on the roof, fighting embers with his son until they had to flee. Though his building survived, he lost around $10, 000 worth of food. Bitonti wants to reopen to serve the community that has supported his family-owned restaurant since 1960. Onil Chibas, owner of Deluxe 1717, also south of the fire, is expanding his hours to support the community. After reopening to give away free lunches, he plans to stay open seven days a week from 10 a. m. to 8 p. m. "I want to be there for them, " Chibas said, wanting to provide a sense of normalcy amid the chaos. Despite the challenges, Kaiser remains optimistic about Pasadena's resilience. "It's a severe situation, but the community will bounce back, " he said.