Former Star-News Building New Home of Wake and Late Breakfast Burrito Chain

Wake and Late restaurants, a growing downtown Los Angeles-based breakfast burrito chain, will be occupying almost all of the 12,000-square-foot ground floor of the historic Pasadena Star-News building at 525 E. Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena.

Greenbridge Investment Partners, which manages the property, said Wake and Late plans to use a culinary space formerly used by Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts’ as a training ground for aspiring chefs.

Wake and Late will reportedly build out a new storefront location for food and coffee sales.

The site will also house a large-scale bakery to sourdough bagels, breads, and breakfast pastries for all three Wake and Late locations: downtown LA, Santa Monica and Hollywood.

“To support a culinary institute, the building showcased its incredible capacity to handle the simultaneous operation of multiple professional-grade kitchens where aspiring chefs perfected their crafts day after day,” Sean Hashem, principal at Greenbridge Investment Partners, said in a statement. “Greenbridge maintained the property as a culinary fortress that far exceeds the needs of our tenants. It allows them to significantly increase the production of menu items and reach more customers in the heart of Pasadena’s dining and entertainment district.”

Located in the heart of Pasadena’s financial district, the Star News Building – which consists of four stories and a penthouse plus two levels below grade – was completed in 1925 and features unique architecture within the Colorado Playhouse district. The building is home to Le Cordon Bleu, 24 Hour Fitness and is walking distance from Paseo Colorado. It is also near the Pasadena Civic Center and within walking distance of several dining and entertainment places.

In April, Wake and Late co-owner Ben Richter told Eater LA they were opening the Pasadena location as a central production hub for their baked products as well as a storefront for food and coffee.

“When we first opened, we really wanted to bring fine and fast breakfast options everywhere,” Richter said. “But you can really only do so much with 900 square feet (in Downtown). Once we started to grow, the question was ‘Is this it? Are we only going to serve food for people who eat breakfast burritos?’ We wanted to be more of an answer for everyone.”

Designed by architect Joseph Blick, much of the building’s original exterior has been preserved. The interior retains the large open spaces, ceilings and historic stonework from the original design.

In March, Greenbridge Investment Partners said it had leased the building’s 7,500-square-foot fourth floor to Last Crumb, another popular Los Angeles-based company that delivers gourmet cookies nationwide.