Rising Rents Force Pasadena Burger Legend Jake's to Shut Down

And so it goes. Another local legend, this time Jake’s in Pasadena, has shuttered as of April 30 — thanks in no small part to the increasingly impossible rents in the Old Town neighborhood.

The Pasadena Star-News has details on the unfortunate Jake’s closure after 68 years on Colorado Blvd. "This decision is certainly not without great sadness and emotion," owner Greg Stevens tells the paper, adding "We really wish that we could continue to exist in this location for many more decades." Stevens goes on to thank the city of Pasadena for all of their support, and gives a hat tip to longtime customers.

It’s a sad end to the diminutive 1947 burger spot, which in recent times has struggled to find its audience amidst the changing landscape of the revitalized Old Town Pasadena. Back in February, they even endured a temporary health department closure, but re-emerged not long after to continue serving burgers and letting locals shoot pool downstairs.