Author: Katy Dhanens & Leah Glowacki
Instead of the concentration of bars, chain-restaurants, shopping malls, and buses that characterize other college towns, Eagle Rock claims an abundance of wineries, dives, and thrift shops. These edgy local spots create a close-knit, creative community in which Oxy students enthusiastically immerse themselves. In the past, however, the small suburb that surrounds our school did not offer the options that make it attractive today. The passing of time brought new commercial business and new diverse faces. Oxy students of the eighties and nineties walked a different Colorado Blvd. than we do today.
Prior to 2001, few businesses decorated Eagle Rock. According to community member and manager of “The Bucket,” Eddie Plascencia, Eagle Rock was not a self-sufficient community. “You wouldn’t shop or hang out in Eagle Rock. You would go somewhere else,” Plascencia said. Terri Wahl, owner of Auntie Em’s said, similarly, that town dynamics forced residents to venture beyond Eagle Rock to meet daily needs. “When I moved here there was no place to eat,” she said.
The economic boom of 2001 provided the incentive for business development. Eight years ago, Terri Wahl, motivated to create a successful, local eatery, bought Auntie Em’s and transformed its bleak interior into a hip, homey environment. An average sub shop became the regionally famous café that has appeared on Food Network and whose cupcakes are devoured by the dozen. “We were the trailblazers of all of this,” Wahl said.
After Auntie Em’s refurbishment, several more businesses also appeared. Oinkster’s, a diner serving simple, affordable food, replaced a standard burger joint. A garage evolved into the artist-run, vegetarian café, Fatty’s. Spitz, the Taco Spot, Larkin’s, and the Coffee Table were also erected within the last 8 years.
In addition to eateries, art galleries also filled the previously blank space. The Cactus, located on York Blvd, opened in 2005. On the second Saturday of every month, it participates in an art festival with other galleries located in Eagle Rock, Highland Park, and Glassell Park. Sandra Mastroianni, owner of the Cactus Art Gallery, is excited about her community’s growth. “There was nothing when I moved here and now there is a lot more commerce,” she said.
As groovy cafes, wineries, art galleries, and boutiques replaced garages and ordinary eateries, empty, reputably unsafe streets became the evidentiary centerpieces of an Eagle Rock renaissance.According to the L.A. Times, Eagle Rock is an “urban seam–not quite city, not quite suburb, edgier and funkier than nearby Glendale and Pasadena, but more forgiving and artsy than the metropolitan center to the south.” The combination of old auto shops, hardware stores, and classic eateries such as Casa Bianca and the Bucket, coupled with young art galleries and restaurants proves this classification. Business owners, residents, and Oxy Students welcome Eagle Rock’s unique identity. “Its like a little town between two cities,” Dave Evans, owner of Dave’s Chillin’ and Grillin,’ said.
Commercialization generates positive community consequences. “Its good to bring new businesses into the community. I think all the changes around here are awesome,” Wahl said. By employing over 30 residents, her cafe serves not only delicious edibles but also as proof of the positives of commercialization. Beyond providing jobs for individuals, commercialization connects Eagle Rock’s diversity. “All of the new businesses that have moved in make Eagle Rock more of a community,” Plascencia said.Business owners interviewed knew their neighbor’s names and histories. Eagle Rock’s new faces seem to support each other in the common goal of riding out the economic downturn. “If we cater a wedding we always recommend the Colorado Wine Company,” Wahl said. “The businesses owners around here are all really friendly and connected.”
Unfortunately, the economic downturn does threaten Eagle Rock’s renaissance. Several revamped storefronts now bear signs of bankruptcy. The Swanky Blanky, Lucy Finch, and Blue Healer are among the ventures eliminated by an absence of business. Sharon Kroner, owner of Owl Talk and an Eagle Rock resident for fifteen years, fears that her community may revert to the way it was before the business bang. “I feel like Eagle Rock is going backwards when it comes to business,” she said.
One reason long-time residents hesitantly welcome development is because of these consequences of an unpredictable American economy. In the seventies, developers tore down a historical building to erect the mini mall on the corner of Townsend and Colorado. They sacrificed a landmark in hopes of spurring the local economy and encouraging community members to invest in Eagle Rock. Conversely, the mini mall stagnated commerce. Kroner said that long-time residents defend the sleepy nature of their community to protect a seventies relapse. “That is why the old timers are so protective. They’ve seen what happened in the past,” she said.
Although there are concerns that the influx of pricey new businesses is the result of a gentrification of Eagle Rock that will take away from the community’s eclectic, small town melting pot, a majority of the residents interviewed believe that Eagle Rock has changed for the better and welcome the changes as beneficial to the community. Although many Eagle Rock residents are optimistic about the future of Eagle Rock, there is opposition from long-time residents who are fearful of change and do not want Eagle Rock to lose its flavor and become the next Pasadena. Those who approve of the changes believe that Eagle Rock is being vitalized by the increase in diversity and commerce. Wahl said that those who oppose change “want it all to stay sleepy and boring.”
The diverse businesses scattered throughout Eagle Rock cater to a community characterized by disparity. Though there is some socioeconomic difference between Eagle Rock, where the Per Capita income is $20,683 and Pasadena, where the Per Capita income is $28,186, according to the Real Estate Board of New York, there is a certain difference between the flavors of the areas. Rachel Greenstein (first-year) compared Pasadena and Eagle Rock. “When I go to Pasadena it is more like a night out on the town because things are a lot more upscale. On the other hand, Eagle Rock is more suitable for a college student on a budget,” she said.
The cost of living in Eagle Rock, however, has risen substantially. Many of the new businesses are relatively pricey and do not cater to the lower-class members of the Eagle Rock community. Their customer base is instead comprised of people coming from other areas of Los Angeles, as well as the wealthier residents of Eagle Rock. When asked to describe her customer base Wahl said she caters to “artists, musicians, young families; those who have groovy hipster vibes.” The restoration of run-down urban areas by the middle class results in the displacement of low-income residents, which will fundamentally alter the town of Eagle Rock.
The composition of the Eagle Rock community has changed along with its commercial development. Some residents have left the area because of rising costs and the decline of the housing market. They can no longer afford to live in the area. In their place, more single, same-sex couples, and couples without children have moved in. The area has, however, become notably safer. Although Eagle Rock, along with the rest of Los Angeles, is known for its gang violence and racial tension, gang activity has decreased in the last decade. The owner of Eagle Rock Underground said “its not as bad as it used to be when people were killed over race and you used to not be able to walk on streets at night by yourself without looking over your shoulder.”
The community has also become more ethnically diverse. Mastroianni said that she previously had “mostly Filipino neighbors” but now “the community has become more diverse.” Plascencia also said “there are new faces and new people coming to the Bucket.” Although the di
versity in the community is welcomed, there is fear that people who are moving in from the West Side will alter Eagle Rock’s cultural identity. According to the L.A. Times, “Eagle Rock stumbled into a terrible decline in the 1970s. In the ’90s, it began to ascend, fueled by millions of dollars in public and private investments – and a wave of artists and bohemians priced out of the beach and unimpressed with the hip scenes of Los Feliz, Silver Lake and Echo Park.” The owner of Eagle Rock Underground said “Its good that people are moving in but we don’t want it to become a second Silverlake.” According to Plascencia, “before you’d never shop and hang out in Eagle Rock but go somewhere else. But now you stay here. People graduate and come back. People are really connected.”
The varying vibes along Colorado Blvd. are apparent in the personalities and travel patterns of local residents. Mastroianni explained that few Pasadena or Silver Lake residents visited her gallery compared to the number of local Eagle Rock shoppers. “People that live north of Colorado don’t come down this way.” The owners of the Taco Truck on Eagle Rock Boulevard did not see any noticeable differences. “No he notado diferencias,” he said. The Taco Truck’s constant customer base proves that even as the outskirts of Eagle Rock are commercialized, attracting tourists and newspaper columnists, it retains its integral, cultured nature.
The evolution of Eagle Rock has not been universally noticed nor appreciated. Returning alumni feel that little has changed in Eagle Rock’s overall appearance. Marsha Miller (’83) said “its funny to drive down Eagle Rock Boulevard. Maybe the store front has changed their sign, but everything looks the same. It looks just as dilapidated and rundown as it always has. Arco iris, Capri, it really does look almost exactly the same. There are little tiny differences when you look at the businesses but the building itself basically looks the same.”
Current students who have explored the community appreciate Eagle Rock for its character and location. “I like that I don’t feel like I’m in a city, but I can commute twenty minutes to a city. I think [the new businesses] give character and quirkiness. Its sad that some are closing,” Annie Lehmann (first-year) said. Students have found Eagle Rock to be an interesting community worth investigating. “I like exploring all the unique little places in Eagle Rock, such as the Italian Bakery and Thai restaurants. I think that Eagle Rock has a good mix of hip, modern places and more classic, ethnic places,” Rachel Greenstein (first-year) said. Because Eagle Rock has become safer, current students are more prone to spend time in the community rather than venturing to places like Pasadena. “I like Eagle Rock, they have good food. Gentrification is a problem. I’m sure the businesses would say that. I’ve never had a problem feeling unsafe,” Michaela Lowry (first-year) said.
The urban, eclectic crowd bordering the Oxy bubble supports the town’s essence. In the future, residents’ personalities could ensure the vitality of the dilapidated community they call their own. However, Pasadena’s gentrified character could continue to bleed down Colorado Blvd., transforming Eagle Rock into another generic city devoid of its current character.
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