Spring is the season of renewal, and for residents of Altadena, the remnants of the wildfire that forever changed their community are making way for a new era, as local businesses begin reopening.
A few months ago, the thought of businesses in the area being ready to accept customers seemed like a forgone sentiment that could possibly have never become a reality — but luckily for the community, where mounds of ashes and debris still remain, a new day has dawned and with it comes hope and financial flourish.
Many of Altadena business owners also live in the neighborhood, meaning they were doubly affected, as they aimed to restore their homes and their businesses — a process that many acknowledged was an extremely tall feat.
However, in a sign of the strength of the residents, some local favorite restaurants and markets have reopened and hope that the community will come out and support albeit in a more scaled back approach for now.
The Army Corps of Engineer teams have finally made real progress in debris removal and area cleanup, but there is still much left to do.
However, if there is one thing that Altadena residents have learned since January 2025, it’s that they are a fiercely strong collective that is committed to rebuilding their community to what it was — and the reopening of local hotspots less than six months after the Eaon fires proves just that.
“We couldn’t have imagined how much would change and that it would take 100 days and so many tears and so much uncertainty to come back,” Armen Market owner, Armen Gharibi, wrote in a heartfelt Instagram post announcing the business’s official reopening on May 3.
“We weren’t sure if we wanted to. We were scared. Our whole future was uncertain. But your support and words of encouragement pushed us forward,” Gharibi’s post continued.
The main lingering question for business owners is will Altadena residents, so overwhelmed with rebuilding their homes and lives, be ready to take a break from it all and indulge in recreational spending?
Local business owners sure hope so.
Experts say they expect the reopening of Altadena businesses to continue at a slow but steady rate, based on the progress made in the area since the Eaton fire initially ravaged through the area, claiming the lives of 18 people and destroying the structures of 9,414 buildings.
Altadena residents have suffered so much in such a short time, and if local businesses reopening their doors can provide a sense of familiarity amidst the disruption, then that’s a reason to celebrate.
SEE ALSO:
Wildfires Left Lasting Damage, But For Altadena Residents Looters Pose A New Threat
Altadena Residents Fear How Wildfires Will Impact Their Health
Reemergence From The Ashes: How Altadena Is Slowly Reopening For Business
was originally published on
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