Hawthorne Press Tribune
The Weekly Newspaper of Hawthorne
Herald Publications - Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale, El Segundo, Torrance & Manhattan Beach Community Newspapers Since 1911 - Circulation 30,000 - Readership 60,000 (310) 322-1830 - February 15, 2018
SpaceX Launch a Major Success
On Feb. 6, the Hawthorne-based SpaceX celebrated another successful launch with its Falcon Heavy rocket lift-off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral. Photo: SpaceX
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City Honors Local Businesses at Expo,
Hawthorne Mall Redevelopment Stalls
By Derrick Deane
anniversary on Feb. 10. “Our big thing
Generating new economic opportunities
is creativity and you’re never going to see
while continuing to sustain the growth of its
the same thing. We’re always changing our
current businesses has been a key piece to
beers up,” Andrew Fowler, managing partner
generating revenue for the City of Hawthorne.
of Los Angeles Ale Works said.
On Jan. 24, the City hosted the third annual
Al-Watan Halal Tandoori was the first
Hawthorne Business Expo which offered
Pakistani-Indian food restaurant in Los Angeles
discussion and educational opportunities
County when it opened its doors 28 years
for attendees. The event was once again led
ago. “We come from a very poor family. My
by Councilwoman Olivia Valentine. “Our
grandfather was a woodcutter and coming
third annual Hawthorne Business Expo was
from there to all the way here, my dad was
well-attended. We had about 400 people in
inspired. He came to this country not just to
attendance and I’m so proud to lead this event,”
work for someone -- he had bigger dreams
Valentine said. “This one was better than the
and in 1990, he opened the restaurant and
second one, which was better than the first.”
he never looked back,” Adeel Mumtaz said
In addition to informational panels and
of his father.
discussions, the event saw 50 Hawthorne
Mayor Alex Vargas, who helped Valentine
businesses participate. “The whole thing is
launch the first Business Expo a couple of
that we want to help our businesses grow,”
years ago, commented on the growth of the
Valentine added. “The businesses that are in
event. “I want to congratulate Councilwoman
Hawthorne, we want to help sustain them
Valentine for her diligence and leadership,” he
and we want to attract new businesses. This
said. “From what I remember, from what it
is all about what Hawthorne can do for its
was then to what it is now, it has absolutely
businesses.”
blown up. I’m really happy to see this.”
Valentine also ook time to recognize a
While the Hawthorne Business Expo looks to
few of the people who helped put the event
continue to build and strengthen relationships
together this year. In addition to Hawthorne
with local businesses, one development
Chamber of Commerce Chair and CEO Patricia
in the city continues to suffer setbacks.
Donaldson, Valentine thanked Jan Vogel, who
Redevelopment at the defunct Hawthorne Mall
served as the event’s emcee. “[He] provided
has once again been delayed. The property had
thoughtful, witty remarks which added vibrancy
been in development with hopes of becoming
and inspiration to our event,” Valentine said
a modernized entertainment center with
of Vogel. “Jan always comes through.”
residential and office buildings interspersed.
Three local businesses were honored at
However, the Hollywood-based owner
the event as Businesses of the Year for 2018
Charles Co. canceled plans that had been
– Advanced Party Rentals, Los Angeles
set forth to begin work on a $500 million
Ale Works, and Al-Watan Halal Tandoori
overhaul of the property, beginning with a
Restaurant. Advanced Party Rentals has been
new $25 million office building. Charles Co.
in Hawthorne for more than 17 years, while
filed plans with the City in late 2016 to begin
Los Angeles Ale Works celebrated its oneyear
the redevelopment work. A year later, when
plans had not moved forward, the City Council
issued an ultimatum to the company to either
begin construction or lose its development
entitlements. When Charles Co. failed to act
on the ultimatum, the Council rescinded its
approvals.
The development company now has to
request authorization from the City to begin any
kind of redevelopment work on the property.
The City’s goal with requiring authorization
now stems from a move to prevent haphazard
construction of any kind of housing on the
property without some sort of commercial
properties included.
City Manager Arnie Shadbehr said that the
City would aggressively cite Charles Co. for
code violations in the meantime and do all
it can to move forward with the project and
address area blight. The Council has recently
taken a much more proactive stance on blight,
with Mayor Pro Tem Hadir Awad leading the
cause to dig deeper into identifying and figuring
out a plan on how to deal with abandoned and
non-functional buildings in the community.
While the mall redevelopment continues
to struggle to get on track, the Council is
particularly enthused about the upcoming
opening of Urth Caffe’s headquarters at 4940
W. 147th St. near Lawndale High School.
According to Urth Caffe’s website, the location
will not only centralize operations but will also
offer a sprawling café with “an epic South Bay
outdoor patio for dining.” Urth additionally
plans to open its coffee roasting facility for
public viewing and to plant its own organic
farm. “This is going to be a very dynamic
place to visit in the South Bay,” Shallom
Berkman, who co-founded the company 25
years ago with his wife Jilla, said. “This is
the heart and soul of Urth Caffe.” •