University Club “Significantly” Damaged by Early Morning Fire

[Updated July 8, 2023 | 9:30 a.m.]  An early morning second-alarm fire at the University Club of Pasadena destroyed the kitchen area and rendered the two-story building uninhabitable, according to city officials. 

The fire was reported at 1:05 a.m. Saturday. The full extent of the damage is not yet known. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The University Club, located at 175 N. Oakland near Fuller Theological Seminary, has been a host to numerous local service clubs and special events for years and has rich roots and history in Pasadena. 

Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin and the Club’s long-time General Manager Cyrus Afshin were on scene during the blaze, according to City spokesperson Lisa Derderian.

“I know they’ll receive an outpouring of community support because anyone who has served on a non-profit board knows the University Club, and it has been home to many weddings and special events since 1922,” Derderian said.

Pasadena Rotary Club 2023-2024 President Justene Adamec told Pasadena Now the University Club has been home to Pasadena Rotary for a long time.

“We are saddened by this event but relieved that no one was hurt,” Adamec said.

The University Club of Pasadena has played a significant role in Pasadena’s history as a nexus for professional, academic, and social life in the community since 1922. It was started by Howard W. Carter for university-educated men in the Hotel Green and moved to its current location in 1926. Women were welcomed as full members in 1986-87, and in 2019, the University Club of Pasadena Education Foundation was formed to support students in higher education. 

The Club celebrated its Centennial on April 23, 2022.

This is a developing story. Pasadena Now will continue to cover this story during the day as more information becomes available.

Related: From 2022: University Club Of Pasadena Celebrates Hitting the Century Mark