Ryan Carter
MONTROSE -- Bigger isn't better, at least if you listen to some of the
Montrose Shopping Park business owners.
Members of the Montrose Shopping Park Assn. are voicing displeasure
over the growth of a neighboring business. They say the growth of
Montrose Travel on Honolulu Avenue threatens the small-town feel of the
business district along the hub on Honolulu Avenue.
Merchants on Honolulu Avenue are concerned that the growth of the
company, which now employs 175 people, will create a parking nightmare in
the business district. Montrose Travel was established in 1956 and was
bought in 1972 by Joe McClure.
"My wife, my sister and I bought it in 1990 when he and my mother
retired," said Montrose Travel owner John McClure III.
In a letter faxed to the Leader and signed "Concerned MSP Merchants,"
the writers expressed that with recent acquisitions of two buildings on
Honolulu Avenue, in addition to the original office space, Montrose
Travel may wind up owning 30% of the retail space and 80% of office space
on the north side of the 2300 block of Honolulu.
"I have no idea who wrote it," said Myrna Grijalva, chairman of the
shopping park association and the owner of Joselito's, a restaurant on
the block and a neighbor of the agency.
But Grijalva acknowleded she felt there is a problem with the growth
and that much of what the letter said seems well researched.
One problem Grijalva and the letter addressed was parking.
"Mr. McClure's son has 155 employees and each has a car. If he takes
over, where does he plan to park them?" she asked.
Grijalva said merchants took the issue to the Glendale City Council,
which on Tuesday voted *** on a 45-day moratorium on the issuance of
permits to open business greater than 5,000 square feet.
Grijalva said she recognizes Montrose Travel's expansion is legal.
"There is no law that says he cannot do that," she said. "He's legal
all the way."
McClure said the business has grown to encompass four corporations,
which are an umbrella for three companies that sell everything from
travel packages to wholesale golf, diving and ski equipment.
The company also owns La Canada Flintridge Travel.
Montrose Travel has grown from six employees to 175 and enjoys annual
revenues of $110 million, said McClure.
But in recent years, McClure has bought two neighboring offices on the
2300 block of Honolulu Avenue, and 30 days ago, McClure bought Faye's of
Montrose, a 14,000-square-foot building McClure said he plans to use for
office space for his companies.
McClure said Monday that he appreciated the small-town atmosphere of
Honolulu Avenue but opposes an ordinance or moratorium on use permits.
"The challenge that I have is that prior to buying Faye's building, we
did our due dilligence and our homework and we discussed it with several
people in the city in key positions. Every single one of them said it was
in its legal limits" to purchase the building, McClure said.
"We love the town of Montrose, and we will do all in our power to
maintain the charming atmosphere of Mayberry," said McClure.
On potential parking problems, McClure said he would even pay a fee to
the city for employee parking.
"I'm not sure it has long-term viability to remian this way forever. I
do believe retail space and office space can coexist," McClure said.
But he said the growth necessitates a lot for parking.
"The problem is parking has been a problem in Montrose for several
years and it's come to a head. It's boiled over," McClure said.
