Although many small businesses in Pasadena are struggling in the wake of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, some owners are rebuilding while also helping their communities.
Burrito Express in Pasadena has been operating since 1978. The small restaurant remains standing today, narrowly escaping the Eaton Fire.
“When Covid hit, we thought that was the worst, but no, this is just beyond anything that we have ever seen or experienced in my lifetime,” said owner Deya Orozco.
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Deya Orozco thanks a customer as her restaurant, Burrito Express in Pasadena, reopened for business on Jan. 18, 2025. (KTLA) -
Deya Orozco thanks a customer as her restaurant, Burrito Express in Pasadena, reopened for business on Jan. 18, 2025. (KTLA) -
Burrito Express in Pasadena is working to recover after the Eaton Fire. (KTLA)
After returning to her restaurant, Orozco immediately reopened and began feeding her community.
“We are so thankful that we’re here and able to do this, to survive, to continue to work,” Orozco said. “I have guys who need work and I’m so blessed to be able to help them also.”
Just down the street from Burrito Express is Deluxe 1717, a restaurant focused on providing free food for the community while using the space as a donation site.
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Deluxe 1717 in Pasadena offered free food to first repsonders and evacueess affected by the L.A. wildfires. The restaurant is also operating as a makeshift donation center. (KTLA) -
Deluxe 1717’s owner, Onil Chibas, speaks to KTLA on Jan. 18, 2025. (KTLA) -
Deluxe 1717 in Pasadena offered free food to first repsonders and evacueess affected by the L.A. wildfires. The restaurant is also operating as a makeshift donation center. (KTLA) -
Deluxe 1717 in Pasadena offered free food to first repsonders and evacueess affected by the L.A. wildfires. The restaurant is also operating as a makeshift donation center. (KTLA) -
Longtime customers who were impacted by the Eaton Fire are grateful for a safe space to enjoy a free hot meal on Jan. 18, 2025. (KTLA)
“I think the hardest part is seeing so many of our friends and customers and coworkers that have been affected by it,” said owner Onil Chibas.
Many of Deluxe 1717’s customers lost everything in the wildfires. As they work to rebuild their lives, they’re grateful to have a safe place to eat a hot meal.
“My home is one of the homes that burned to the ground so I have nothing left,” said Jill Vig, a longtime customer and Eaton Fire victim. “You can tell I’m a little emotional, but this means everything. It means everything,”
As communities work to recover and rebuild, a great deal of Pasadena businesses are suffering from the fires’ economic impact.
“Before this catastrophic event, we had everybody in town for the Rose Parade, hotels were full, restaurants were busy,” said Lisa Dederian, a Pasadena city spokesperson. “Now with all this devastation, we need our restaurants to get up and running.”
Dederian said communities ravaged by the fires are desperate to receive support from locals.
“Our businesses are up and running,” she said. “Please come to Pasadena and frequent our businesses. Please help them. This is their livelihood. Help them to survive. Help get their employees back to work so they can recover.”
“If people can donate and people could give, we would love that,” Orozco said. “We would love to keep feeding more people as long as we can because this will be ongoing for a long time.”
“We don’t know what [the future’s] going to be, but we are going to expand our hours because I feel like the community is going to need that,” Chibas said.
A Disaster Loan Outreach Center for small business owners seeking help and resources is available at Pasadena City College’s Continuing Education Center. More information is available here.
Additional support and resource options for residents can be found here or at L.A. County’s Emergency Resources website.
