Pasadena Pavilions Is Closed. What Happens Next at 845 E. California Blvd.?
The longtime Pavilions supermarket at 845 E. California Blvd. in Pasadena has closed, leaving a prominent grocery space near South Lake Avenue vacant and raising a question for nearby residents: What will replace it?
Albertsons Companies originally announced that the Pavilions location would close effective September 5, 2026. The store ultimately closed to shoppers earlier, on August 18, after merchandise was cleared from the shelves.
A replacement may not come quickly. Pasadena District 7 Councilmember Jason Lyon has said the process of finding a new tenant, negotiating a lease, and completing any necessary changes to the property could take a year to 18 months or longer.
Why did the Pasadena Pavilions close?
Albertsons Companies, which operates Pavilions through its Southern California grocery business, said the decision followed an evaluation of the store’s financial performance as its lease was ending.
The company said it regularly evaluates store performance and sometimes closes locations that do not meet financial expectations. Albertsons also said it was working to identify opportunities for affected employees at nearby stores, consistent with applicable laws and its labor agreement.
Pavilions and Vons together have served Pasadena for 48 years, according to Albertsons.
For the surrounding neighborhood, however, the loss goes beyond the closure of another retail business.
Lyon described the California Boulevard Pavilions as a walkable, full service grocery store serving several residential neighborhoods in District 7. He said its closure could mean more driving, less choice, and less convenience for residents who had relied on the market.
The closure also carried a personal connection for Lyon, who said his sons grew up shopping at the market and that longtime employees had become familiar faces and friends.
What could replace Pavilions at 845 E. California Blvd.?
There is no confirmed replacement tenant as of September 27, 2026.
The property is already being marketed for lease, and current commercial real estate listings continue to position it for grocery use.
The approximately 20,000 square foot retail building was constructed in 1974 and sits on roughly 1.11 acres near South Lake Avenue. Commercial listings classify the property as a supermarket and describe it as suitable for a supermarket or specialty grocery operator.
That does not guarantee that another grocery store will ultimately take the space, but it does show that grocery operators are among the tenants being targeted for the property.
Lyon has also said there is agreement among his office, city economic development staff, and representatives of the property owner that another market would be a desirable use for the site.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Pavilions on California Boulevard in Pasadena close?
The Pavilions at 845 E. California Blvd. in Pasadena closed to shoppers on August 18, 2026. Albertsons Companies had previously announced September 5, 2026, as the effective closure date, but the store closed to customers earlier.
Why did the Pasadena Pavilions close?
Albertsons Companies said the Pasadena Pavilions location was closing after an evaluation of the store’s financial performance as its lease was ending. The company said it periodically closes locations that do not meet financial expectations.
What is replacing Pavilions at 845 E. California Blvd. in Pasadena?
As of September 27, 2026, no replacement tenant has been announced for the former Pavilions at 845 E. California Blvd. The approximately 20,000 square foot property is being marketed for lease, including to supermarket and specialty grocery operators. Pasadena officials have also been working with representatives of the property owner to identify prospective tenants.
How long could the former Pavilions site remain vacant?
Pasadena District 7 Councilmember Jason Lyon has said the process of finding a tenant, negotiating a lease, and preparing the property could take a year to 18 months or longer. The timeline could change depending on the tenant selected and the amount of work required before a new business can open.
A replacement could take more than a year
Residents hoping for a quick announcement may need to wait.
Lyon has estimated that it could take the property’s management firm a year to 18 months or longer to identify a tenant, negotiate a lease, and complete any changes needed before a new business can open.
That timeline does not mean the property will necessarily remain vacant for that entire period. It reflects the potential length of the commercial leasing and redevelopment process.
The City of Pasadena’s Economic Development team and Lyon’s office have been working with representatives of the property owner to identify prospective tenants.
Pasadena’s Office of Economic Development is responsible for business attraction and retention efforts across the city, making the Pavilions vacancy a natural target for those efforts.
Where can former Pavilions shoppers go?
Albertsons has said it remains committed to serving Pasadena through its remaining Vons locations.
Those include Vons at 155 W. California Blvd. and Vons at 2355 E. Colorado Blvd.
For residents who walked to Pavilions from neighborhoods around South Lake Avenue, however, another supermarket elsewhere in Pasadena does not necessarily replace the convenience of having a full service grocery store within walking distance.
That is one reason the future of 845 E. California Blvd. will be worth watching closely.
What happens next?
For now, there is no announced replacement for Pavilions.
The strongest indication of what could come next is the property’s current marketing. The approximately 20,000 square foot space is being offered as a supermarket or specialty grocery opportunity, while Pasadena officials have said they are helping identify potential tenants.
The key question is whether those efforts result in another full service grocery store, a specialty market, or a different retail use.
Everything Pasadena will continue tracking the property at 845 E. California Blvd. and update this story when a prospective tenant or replacement business is announced.
What would you like to see replace Pavilions at California Boulevard and South Lake Avenue?