After 70 Years, Assistance League of Pasadena’s Craft Fair Gift Shop Closes Permanently Today

Nonprofit Assistance League of Pasadena thanked the members of the community who supported its Craft Fair Gift Shop, which will permanently close today, July 29, after almost 70 years. 

Everything in the store, which is open until 4 p.m., is 20% off.

Located at 820 E. California Blvd., the store, which sells handmade merchandise of local seniors, has been providing income and creative outlet for seniors since it opened in 1955.

“We’d like to thank all of our loyal shoppers over the years. They have provided great benefit in many ways to our seniors,” League Vice President of Strategic Planning, Ursula Hyman said on Friday.

Hyman, who previously led the League as its president, also thanked exhibitors who supported the shop “for their patience in dealing with us” and for bringing “unusual and beautiful items.”

People coming to the store in recent days have expressed sadness that the shop is closing. 

“We’ve had excellent sales days and our purchasers express their sadness. Many of them been coming for years.”

While it is not an easy decision to make, Hyman said the closure is necessary so the League can focus on its mission to serve the local community. 

“We’re closing since we’re no longer really serving our community.”

According to Hyman, the store was once predominantly stocked by local exhibitors, but now only a quarter of them are from the Pasadena area. Most items currently being sold are not from the Pasadena area exhibitors.

The operation of the store has also become financially burdensome due to staff salaries and volunteer management.

The organization plans to reallocate the funds previously used for maintaining the store to other programs, including Operation School Bell, which provides clothes and supplies for students in need. 

The building will be repurposed as the chapter office and headquarters.

The remaining inventory in the shop will be returned to exhibitors.

“We will return it to the exhibitors unless they decide to donate it to us for our thrift store.”

“We’re starting next week to take everything down by number, get it out of the computer system, and notify the exhibitors when they can pick them up.”

Hyman said the League is looking for other opportunities to help seniors in the community, including the exhibitors who will lose an additional source of income because of the closure of the store. 

For more information call (626) 795-4991 or visit www.pasadena.assistanceLeague.org