Harvest Rock Church Puts Historic Ambassador Auditorium in West Pasadena Up for Sale

Harvest Rock Church is selling the iconic Ambassador Auditorium in West Pasadena, with an asking price of $45 million, marking the first time in two decades the property has been on the market. The 1,200-seat concert hall and performing arts venue will be listed on July 9 by Compass agents Isidora Fridman and Lauren Rauschenberg.

The 45,000-square-foot building, located at 131 South St. John Avenue, was purchased by Harvest Rock Church in 2004 for $19 million. In 2020, the church refinanced the property with an $18.3 million loan through the California Municipal Finance Authority.

“Opportunities of this caliber are rare in the market,” Fridman said in a statement, adding the property could be sold to the City of Pasadena, or investors.

A City spokesperson told Pasadena Now that “the City of Pasadena does not plan to purchase the Ambassador Auditorium.”

The church plans to relocate, according to Pastor Che Ahn of Harvest Rock Church.

Built in 1974 by architectural firm Daniel Mann Johnson and Mendenhall, the auditorium has hosted orchestra and symphonic performances, high school graduations, and corporate presentations. The lobby is decorated with rose onyx walls, African Shedua wood railings, and ceilings adorned with 24-carat gold leaf.

Harvest Rock Church, founded in 1994 by Ché and Sue Ahn, has grown significantly over the years. The church operates multiple campuses across California and describes itself as an apostolic church committed to transforming society through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The West Pasadena Residents Association puts the Ambassador Auditorium on the short list of “Pasadena’s wonders.”

The WPRA issued a Preservation Alert on Tuesday, adding “to be clear, we have no reason to believe a change of ownership would result in demolition or desecration of this 50-year-old jewel. We offer this WPRA Preservation Alert only to keep you informed.”