Popular Il Fornaio location to close
Upscale restaurant in its final weekend after it couldn't renew lease at One Colorado center
Il Fornaio Cucina Italiana, an Old Pasadena finedining institution beloved for its pasta dishes and pizza, will close Sunday, laying off dozens of workers and surprising longtime customers who patronized the eatery.
The brick building with its black-and-white awnings and outdoor patio was the gathering point for family celebrations such as weddings, birthdays and anniversaries. Business people met there for lunch. But longtime customers say the hardest farewell will be to the dozens of staff members who have been with the upscale restaurant for most of its 30 years in Pasadena.
Film editor and producer Luis Colina of Pasadena said the closure stunned regulars of the upscale restaurant, which first opened in 1993.
“(We) had our rehearsal dinner there before our wedding in 2011,” Colina said. “The staff is the best, most professional and caring everywhere. This place is a Pasadena institution, and it's very sad and upsetting to me to see it closing so suddenly.”
Superlative service from staff kept him coming back, Colina said. He is sad those who provided that service now find themselves out of work after many dedicated and loyal years.
Ted Laymon, president of Il Fornaio, said it was difficult to shutter one of its 19 California locations after 30 years of building community with guests and employees.
“We have decades of amazing memories there,” Laymon said of the thriving Pasadena site. “We tried our best to extend our lease at our current location, but with One Colorado choosing to move in a different direction, we are not able to stay.”
Laymon said despite the pandemic and more people working from home instead of an office, customer traffic was not a factor in the closing. He said the business has done well post-pandemic.
In a statement, ShopCore Properties, which leases and manages One Colorado, said Il Fornaio has been an integral part of the open-air shopping district.
“We're thankful for their dedication to the Pasadena community and look forward to what's to come,” officials said.
That includes news of what comes next for that Union Street location. On Sept. 5, One Colorado announced that Javier's, a Laguna Beach-based restaurant offering elevated Mexican cuisine, will be coming to Pasadena on Hugus Alley near Anthropologie and behind Sephora at One Colorado.
Pasadena spokeswoman Lise Derderian said the city is not involved in landlord and tenant issues, a sentiment echoed by Paul Little, president and CEO of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce. But Little said he is personally sorry to see Il Fornaio go.
“I always enjoy the atmosphere, service and terrific variety of excellent food,” he said. “It is always sad to see a beloved and longterm business close. I have no insight into the motivations behind the decision but know they have been a valuable contributor to our local economy as a favorite for business lunches as well as a dinner destination for many people throughout the area.”
Some longtime employees of Il Fornaio, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they feel slighted by the closure, which they were told about Dec. 14.
“There were no thankyous for sticking around and for all your hard work, and we're the second-highest-earning Il Fornaio after Las Vegas,” one said. “There was no transparency about what was happening.”
Laymon said many of their 70 employees can transfer to one of Il Fornaio's other locations in Southern California.
“A few are even relocating to transfer to our further afield locations in California or Las Vegas,” he said. “For other employees who are not able to transfer, we have been working to help them find employment at different restaurants in the nearby area.”
The closest Il Fornaio restaurants to Pasadena are in Beverly Hills, Irvine,
Manhattan Beach and Woodland Hills.
Il Fornaio, with its popular calamaretti fritti, thincrust pizza and desserts, earns even wider praise for the loyalty between staff members and customers.
Server Walter Black of Altadena has worked for Il Fornaio for 22 years, including 12 at its Pasadena branch.
“Coming here feels like being with my family, from my co-workers to our customers,” he said. “But let me say first that the people of Pasadena are wonderful, kind and understanding. And I have faith I'll find something.”
Il Fornaio regular Colina said he and his wife will be at the restaurant today and Sunday for a last meal of carpaccio and pizza — and cocktails. But mostly, it will be to say goodbye to friends such as Drew, Roland, Rebecca and Alyssa, who made Il Fornaio special for them.
“They are the heart and soul of this place, so (this weekend) will be a goodbye thing,” he said. “Everyone is in shock with this whole thing. It's really sad to see them go.”