Panda Inn Now Says it is “Premature” to Report They Will Demolish, Rebuild Original Location in Hasting Ranch

Panda Inn won’t be demolishing its original restaurant in Hastings Ranch Pasadena after all.

L.A. Eater says it has spoken with Panda Restaurant Group representatives who are now saying talk about Panda Inn tearing down its one-story structure at 3488 E. Foothill Blvd. is “premature,” despite information in city report which seemed to indicate otherwise.

“While we are still in the early stages of this development, we are committed to having our family’s original Panda Inn remain on this location to continue serving our valued guests for years to come,” the representatives are reported as saying. “We do not have any intentions to demolish the original Panda Inn.”

Last week, Pasadena’s Design Commission visited the area where the first Panda Inn restaurant ever has been standing on since 1973. The visit was related to a project to build 232 market rate apartments, 26 very-low-income apartments and a detached 8,140 square foot one-story restaurant building with a total of 465 parking spaces.

CFT NV Developments LLC, a real estate development company allied with the Panda Group, applied to pursue the project. In January, CFT purchased nearly four acres around the Panda Inn location for $40 million, says Los Angeles Magazine.

Andrew and Peggy Cherng opened the Panda Inn restaurant at Hastings Ranch in 1973. In 1982, they built a second Panda Inn in Glendale and then quickly added the first quick service Panda Express location in the Glendale Galleria.

Aside from the Pasadena and Glendale branches, Panda Inn is also located in La Palma and in Ontario. The affiliated Panda Express fast food chain operates about 1,900 locations.