New Retailers Lead Small Business Shopping in Old Pasadena

For newly opened businesses in Old Pasadena, this Small Business Saturday marks their inaugural opportunity to connect with the community during one of the District’s busiest shopping days. PlayLab Beauty and Portrait Space exemplify a new generation of retailers focusing on unique experiences and personal connections with customers.

Seven welcome stations will distribute free canvas tote bags and Old-Pas branded enamel pins while supplies last.

“Our boutique was inspired by a desire to bring the exceptional quality and innovation of Korean and Japanese beauty products right here to the Pasadena community,” said Vanessa Nabhani, founder and CEO of PlayLab Beauty. “As a lifelong Pasadena-area resident, I’m excited to welcome our community into our store and share the best Korean and Japanese beauty products we’ve curated for everybody.”

The boutique opened six months ago in One Colorado, near Anthropologie and Sephora, “because we wanted to elevate the Asian beauty shopping experience in a premium shopping destination.”

“As younger generations increasingly value intentional, meaningful, and in-person experiences, we see events like Small Business Saturday evolving to focus on creating connections and offering something unique,” Nabhani explained. The boutique plans to give full-sized products to 50 lucky shoppers as a special thank-you.

Portrait Space at 110 W. Green Street, typically operates by appointment only but welcomes walk-ins for this special event.

“We’re offering mini holiday photo sessions for $40, where clients can try out our self-portrait station (we hand you the remote!) and receive 5 high-quality, print-ready digital files,” said Victoria Lee.

“Our ‘Letters to Santa’ themed photo set includes festive props, making it a perfect opportunity to get a holiday photo while experiencing what a session with us is like.”

The studio also serves as an intimate event space for holiday gatherings, workshops, pop-ups, and milestone celebrations.

“Living in Pasadena for the past decade has shaped how we enjoy the city, first as residents and now as business owners,” said Thomas Kalb, co-owner of Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery. “This is truly home. So it’s been wonderful to feel like we’re really part of this community, not just because we operate a business here, but because we frequent all of these neighboring businesses.”

The Pasadena Department of Transportation will support new and established businesses with free transit rides on November 29 and 30. For transit information including bus schedules, maps, and real-time arrival updates, shoppers can call (626) 744-4055 or visit PasadenaTransit.net.

To help locate participating businesses, Old Pasadena has created a Shop Small / Dine Local Google Map marking all welcome stations with a star.

“City-supported initiatives like free transit and special promotions are a tremendous help to small businesses like ours. By making it easier and more enticing for people to explore Pasadena, these efforts bring new and existing customers into our store who might not have otherwise stopped by,” Nabhani said.

Santa’s Helpers will visit independent retailers throughout the day, offering shoppers chances to win American Express gift cards valued at $25, $50, and $100 to spend at Old Pasadena businesses.

The 22-block National Register Historic District features 200 retail shops and specialty boutiques, as well as 100 restaurants, cafés, and entertainment venues. The first two hours of parking cost $1 in the three Park & Walk Garages.