by Timothy Rutt
Two things are buzzing in Altadena at the moment -- we’re on the case, but not really getting anywhere right now:
- Bakery and deli at Ralphs? That’s the rumor going around: Greg and Ericka Lozano-Buhl have been passing around a picture in the local newsgroups that say the long-neglected Ralphs Market on Lake Avenue will start construction of a deli and bakery this summer, in an attempt to up its game. With the Walmart Neighborhood Market moving in at Lincoln Avenue, and unsubstantiated-but-not-going-away rumors that the giant retailer is planning the same thing for the Calaveras Crater next door to Ralphs, it seems like a smart move, if maybe too late. Greg says he took the picture of the new floorplan while the clerks were discussing it wth him (and for various reasons, we’re not running the picture he took). We’ve left several email and phone messages with the Ralphs spokesperson this week, but no response so far.
- AltaEats: One of Altadena’s two new restaurants opened a few weeks ago, and the reviews are really good. AltaEats, 1860 N. Allen Avenue, is in that weird Pasadena/Altadena border (i.e. Pasadena address, but really in Altadena) and has been a long-time coming, a victim of the county’s code enforcement regime. Again, we’d love to do a story, but our several phone calls and emails to them remain unanswered.