Dan Stathatos, Founder of Stats, Reported Dead at 91

Dan Stathatos, who founded Pasadena’s iconic Stats Decorative Center in 1964, has died at his home in San Marino. He was 91.

His son Damon Stathatos, who lives in Pasadena, said his father had a stroke three weeks ago and suffered complications. Damon, 56, now runs Stats as general manager.

“He was revered by everyone he knew or met because he would help and care about anyone,” Damon said in an interview with the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. “He was a very good businessman — with a heart of gold.”

Dan Stathatos is the son of a Greek immigrant who sold flowers in the downtown Los Angeles flower market and eventually founded Broadway Florist in 1910. He and brother Jerry took over the business when their father died, until Stathatos opened his own flower shop in Pasadena in 1962. The shop initially operated as a franchise called Valley Florist Supply.

Two years later, Stathatos decided to launch his store in the area called Stats on 120 South Raymond Avenue. The store grew and expanded to five other Southern California locations. The expansion had to be pared back as the economy went sour in later years.

Today, Stats Decorative Home Center operates at its original location in Pasadena although it has grown into a 32,000-square-foot area. The store now has three specialty shops — The Old Town Shaving Company, The Bea’s Knees Wine, Cheese and Gifts and Sierra Madre Sawing and Milling.

The family also owns Fishbecks Patio Center just next door which sells high-end backyard furniture and supplies.

“The thing he became known for are the seasonal decorations,” Damon told the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. “The store has decorations for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Over the years, people came to refer to us as ‘the Disneyland of Christmas.’ We have such a high visibility that people come year after year to buy their decorations here. It’s a big part of their Christmas, and we really do the store up.”

Dan Stathatos’ wife Bea­trice, died in 2012, and brother Jerry, who had joined Dan at Stats in 1985, passed away in January last year. Jerry’s son John is Damon’s partner at Stats.

Dan Stathatos is also survived by sons Michael, 59, of Washougal, Washington; Philip, 61, of Pasadena; Dan Steven Stathatos, 63, of La Cañada Flintridge and nine grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 10th, at St. Sophia Cathedral on 1324 S. Normandy Ave. in Los Angeles. Burial will be at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale.