Expanding Opportunity While many in Altadena’s entrepreneurial community remain optimistic about a recovery, multiple business owners described lengthy and difficult roads ahead. Some businesses were burned entirely to the ground, while others face long-term displacement due to damage or smoke. For those fortunate enough to have brick-and-mortar properties still standing, they’re surrounded by what some have described in interviews as “ground zero.” Little Red Hen, a family-owned cafe in Altadena, was destroyed in last month’s deadly fires. Courtesy: Shay family
When the Los Angeles wildfires swept through Southern California in January, Barbara Shay lost much more than the building housing the cafe she owned.
Gone were the ingredients for menu items like grits or pancakes. Gone were the photos of icons ranging from former