Oh, this is so sad. We loved DD's and tried real hard to promote them. We used their catering services two or three times at our store events. Darnit.

I think it is very hard for a stand-alone restaurant to succeed, unless it's a chain, such as the KFC at Woodbury, or has been there forever (like Fair Oaks Burger). Without offices that have workers who go out for lunch or some other attraction--entertainment, shops, and so on--there simply isn't a customer base.

That part of Fair Oaks is simply not a business area like Lincoln Ave., Lake, or Allen. It is surely in need of revitalization, but how? And what? I drive down that section of Fair Oaks at least three times a week, and it always seems barren (part of this is unnecessarily wide street), rundown, and scattershot. I drive Fair Oaks to get to Pasadena, not to go to anything in Altadena. In fact, I've lived in West Altadena 22 years and only went to Fair Oaks Burger for the first time a couple days ago, based on recommendations in Patch.

Here I go dreaming again--but wouldn't it be nice to have "pocket" business areas like I grew up with in The Valley, where there is a small grocery, a place or two to eat, and some shops? It won't happen, because our culture is so different, and LOCAL is not, for most people, where they live but where they work or attend church because we don't walk, we drive.

Well, then, there's the problem, Laura...."I drive down Fair Oaks to get to Pasadena, not to go to anything in Altadena. In fact, I've lived in West Altadena 22 years and only went to Fair Oaks burger for the first time a couple of days ago...." There are 42,000 people in Altadena - if we all concentrated on giving local businesses a chance, they might just discover some things they actually like.

Lori, please understand a lot of the problem is MONEY. Until I read reviews, how did I know what was there? My funds are very limited, I can't try restaurants w/o knowing if they are good & reasonably-priced. I don't eat out more than once or twice a month, counting In-N-Out & Pizza Hut. I would love to hang out at The Coffee Gallery, but even at their reasonable prices, it's a luxury I can't afford. When I worked, it was out of my way to go to Altadena businesses & many were not open after work. I tried local markets--Jack's Apple and Ralph's--& didn't like them, but I shopped at Altadena Market all the time until it was torn down.

Part of my point is that as a society, we are always GOING somewhere--to & from work, to & from volunteer activities, to & from entertainment. We drive past local businesses because we have a schedule to keep & most locals close too early to stop in after work. Another part is that local businesses often are more expensive. Bulgarini consistenly gets wonderful recommendations, but I almost fainted when I paid $6 for a small bowl. Please don't say "It's worth it." That's irrelevant when one is skimping. Shortly after I moved to Pasadena 34 years ago, I went to Webster's to buy a toy. The game I wanted was twice what I could get it for at SavOn. I have been in your store many times since then, I loved Karen's, & will pay a little more for local, but not that much. Don't local businesses bear some responsibility?

(BTW, Dan, I think you mean Baja Ranch. It's not King's Ranch anymore.)

It was a nice little place but it really wasn't to my taste. The parking lot was also something to negotiate and noisy. The Red Hen, small as it is, is still my favorite place for pancakes along with Fair Oaks Burger in the mornings for pancakes and nicely done scrambled eggs. I'm not crazy about their burgers though. For burgers I will continue to visit Pasadena for Pie 'N Burger or In-N-Out.

There are only two stores in Altadena where I consistently shop and that's Steve's Pets and Oh Happy Day (since finding the parking lot in the back). That's it. I wish there were more places local for shopping, eating or even for tech goodies.

HI, Angela--tell me a little more about The Little Red Hen. When we first moved to Altadena, it sounded so charming that I couldn't wait to drop in. This was a long time ago, so my comments may no longer be valid. The burger was awful, and we waited a half hour just to be noticed. There were several men at the counter, and the waitress chatted with them, but all but one--someone I knew from church--looked at us like we shouldn't be there. I hope it has changed.

The problem was that they were IMPOSSIBLE to see in a very undesirable little mini mall where you did see the liquor store. You had to remember to go there and it was just so much easier to remember to go to Fair Oaks Burger, I liked the fried chicken. D R A T

Oh the Red Hen. There are people who love it. I know I should but I don't for all the reasons Laura outlines above.

Hmmm, now that I think about it, Red Hen reminds me of an old country diner the likes of which I'm very familiar with in places like Emporia, VA or parts of Mississippi. People will check you out there and I've experienced that. Let's just say I don't talk right for some. I'm not a big gabber so when I'm there I'm either reading a paper or something on my iPad. However, after discovering Fair Oaks Burger has bigger and nicer pancakes, I've been ordering from them.

Steve L nailed it - it was in a very undesirable mini mall. I, like Laura, drive by this section all the time without visiting these businesses - largely because this section of Fair Oaks is not exactly inviting. Similar to Rite Aid, the environment is a big factor. There was a recent post saying Altadena is not Sierra Madre - and this is true in many ways - one of which is that the storefronts in Sierra Madre are attractive, and it is a pleasure to walk around there. That said, I refuse to go to Sierra Madre because of a negative exeperience with the local law enforcement there.

Like Angela, I really would like to do most of my shopping in Altadena. And I mean north Altadena! I do shop at Altadena Hardware and I get these huge rope pulls for my dog at Steve's, but not pet food (much cheaper at S&F) and I don't buy the dogs toys and such. I get pizza at Pizza Hut (a chain, I know, but local and cheap). I still miss Altadena Market on Lincoln & Altadena, where my kids & I shopped all the time. Maybe we should have our own home-grown "Altadena & Lake Redevelopment Agency"!

Laura- well the County is SUPPOSED to be doing that, and like everything else, they get paid and then if its going to happen we have to make it happen and fight the people we are paying to do it every inch of the way. Its FRUSTRATING and annoying.

I featured DD's in my Frugal Family column and in a restaurant review last March. I think that the biggest problem that they had was the location and the motley combination of printed banners out in front looked pretty ramshackled. The exterior and the aromas are what draw people into a restaurant. Their exterior didn't do that. We liked the catfish, but the fries were frozen and the chicken was dry, like it was fried and "held". FRESHNESS is key when it comes to restaurant success. I am very sorry that they didn't last. I suggested to them that they try to get involved with Food Truck Fridays -- but I guess that didn't happen either. The food business is the hardest and fastest turnover.
RE: Little Red Hen.......I call it a Paula Deen pleaser. Their biscuits are great -- with gravy better! The food is Southern soul food. My only wish is that they used butter instead of margarine. I have only ever eaten breakfast there but they do have interesting looking lunches and are open until 2pm. Nice Family.....nice waitresses.

Oh -- also....the Altadena market didn't close, it moved. The store lost its lease and moved to the location at the corner of Glenrose and Altadena Drive. The owner John, had to close last year. He said that not enough of his former customers followed them to the new location, partly due to the reduction of size and amount of product. But they still had the same butcher, Mr. Lee and a meat counter. The market reopened all most a year ago and is owned by Bo. But both Mr. Lees are back, the butcher and the store manager. They carry many of the same specialty items. If more local people went in and asked Bo (there on the weekends) for specific items, they might branch out more. Bo is one of the many Altadena business owners who doesn't live here and has no idea of what Altadena wants. He lives about an hour east of here and the Mr. Lee who does the ordering lives about an hour west of here. They have NO IDEA of the demographics, local goings on etc. They don't read the Patch, attend community meetings .......they have the ability to adapt however, if locals ask.