Pasadena’s ‘626 Day’ Aims to Celebrate City, Boost Local Economy

Pasadena city officials and Visit Pasadena announced plans Thursday to team with a host of local businesses and cultural institutions in offering a wide selection of discounts and other incentives on June 26, now designated “626 Day.”

Dozens of Pasadena businesses will be joining in the campaign by offering 6.26% discounts on the day, along with many other special offers, city officials said in a written statement. The public is also encouraged to support local businesses online through social media using the hashtag #Pasadena626Day.

“From its hip dining scene to its unique shops and museums, Pasadena is a city ready to be explored,” the city said in a written statement.

With the lifting of state pandemic restrictions planned on June 15, Pasadena Economic Development Manager Eric Duyshart said he was optimistic about the weeks and months to come.

“We have a lot to celebrate in anticipation of statewide restrictions being lifted and our businesses and museums finally returning to normal,” he said. “I encourage everyone to join in the fun of Pasadena 626 Day by supporting our local businesses, making plans to visit our cultural institutions and taking in the amenities that Pasadena has to offer.”

The event was intended to help put the local economy on the right footing head out of the pandemic, Visit Pasadena Executive Director Jeanne Goldschmitt said.

“Pasadena has always been a diverse destination with many attractions to explore. We are excited to be able to showcase all that the city has to offer and allow visitors to participate in Pasadena 626 Day,” she said.

“We hope that by doing so, they will discover new adventures they can experience. Now that things have reopened, this encourages traveling and helps our businesses recover,” Goldschmitt added.

Pasadena 626 Day is intended to be a win-win for both the city and local businesses,  Pasadena Special Projects Manager Michelle Garrett said.

“[It’s] a day to celebrate our local businesses and the return to business as normal, or close to normal, throughout the state of California,” Pasadena Special Projects Manager Michelle Garrett said.

“We’ve reached out and have been reaching out to all of our small and local independents — our mom and pops — asking them to participate by being a listing in our 626 Business Directory,” Garrett explained. “And we’re asking them to offer a discount, a special or a promotion. And then in turn, the city will promote and market the campaign to bring people back and welcome them back to our businesses and then our cultural institutions.”

“With statewide restrictions lifting, hopefully by next week, we felt that the timing was right to do something like this,” she added.

“We hope that people go out and support our small and local independent businesses,” Garrett said. “They’ve endured such a long year with these COVID-related restrictions. And we’re so happy that those are being lifted and we hope that the public goes out to them. They’re what make our community so special and differentiate us from other regions and cities in the area.”

The city will also be hosting an Instagram giveaway featuring prizes from local vendors through its Instagram account at https://www.instagram.com/cityofpasadena.

A list of participating businesses and offers can be found online at visitpasadena.com/626-day/.

More information for businesses interested in participating is available at cityofpasadena.net/economicdevelopment/626-day/.