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The Delight of Small Town Businesses, by Carrie Benuska

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The Delight of Small Town Businesses, by Carrie Benuska, San Marino Real Estate

The San Marino Real Estate Report, as seen weekly in the San Marino Tribune

George Banks, owner of San Marino Seafood, with his trusty side-kick Gabriel Mejia

San Marino is one of the most elite residential communities in the state of California and  has an outstanding reputation across the nation and even around the world.  Our well-respected school system, beautiful architectural homes, and well-manicured and scenic tree-lined streets make us a destination of choice for potential home buyers.  San Marino provides the whole package and has enjoyed an outstanding reputation for decades.

Part of San Marino’s charm has always been its quaint, small town atmosphere.  This is not the town for strip malls, fast food restaurants, or large international chain stores.  I am glad that San Marino now has a Starbucks, but I also value that our town is filled with owner-operated businesses.  Stores and restaurants like this provide personalized service, go out of their way to meet your needs, and make you feel connected to your community.  There is nothing like walking into a store or restaurant and being greeted by name.  In our fast-paced world, it is refreshing and uplifting to be known, valued, and remembered.

There are many very special businesses in San Marino, but I would like to highlight a few:

San Marino Seafood:

Founded in 2002 and located in a prominent Huntington Drive location, San Marino Seafood is an outstanding restaurant and fish market.  This is one of my favorite lunch spots, and I am particularly wild about the seafood sandwiches and the white clam chowder.  The food is fresh, healthy, and delicious, and the outdoor patio is a pleasure on a sunny afternoon.

What makes San Marino Seafood so special, though, is the friendly staff, led by the owner George Banks.  George, with his booming voice and hearty laughter, makes everyone feel welcome.  I have never had a bad meal at San Marino Seafood, and they go out of their way to make sure that the entire dining experience is enjoyable.

Huntington Pharmacy:

Even with the recent bad press and alarming rumors of impropriety, I have to give a nod to one of my favorite San Marino businesses, Huntington Pharmacy.  The owner, P.K. Lim, has shown immense kindness to our family through the years and gone the extra mile to ensure that all of our needs are met.  I will never forget an instance when P.K. came to the pharmacy on a Sunday in order to fill a particularly important prescription.  His staff is friendly and helpful, and I particularly appreciate the wonderful delivery service.  Huntington Pharmacy is also a great spot to pick up a large assortment of items, including birthday cards, gifts, makeup, or office supplies.

San Marino Toy and Book:

If I had to choose my very favorite store in San Marino, it would most assuredly be San Marino Toy and Book.  This fantastic store, owned by Betty Takeuchi, has been a San Marino fixture for decades.  I first stumbled upon the shop when it was located on the opposite side of Huntington Drive and my eldest daughter, Ellie, was a baby.  I carried Ellie (now 20) in a back pack, and I searched through the racks of beautiful books.  I was shocked to run into some old friends like “Curious George”, “Clifford the Big Red Dog”, and “The Little Fur Family”.  The memories of my mom reading me these time-honored books caused me to make reading aloud to my own kids a huge priority.

I probably have spent more money at San Marino Toy and Book than any other store in town.  During my kids’ young years, I made full use of all the store provided.  I brought the kids to book signings, attended workshops, and stood in line to enjoy the summer sale.  If San Marino Toy and Book doesn’t have what you need, they will order it, and they are the best gift wrappers around.

 Carrie Benuska, Teles Properties, 210 S. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena

A Neighborhood Gem, by Carrie Benuska

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A Neighborhood Gem, by Carrie Benuska, San Marino Real Estate

Curious George at San Marino Toy and Book, by Carrie Benuska

A warm memory from my childhood involves my mom reading to me.  She was always willing and eager to pick up a book, and I loved the whole experience – snuggling close to my mom, hearing a familiar tale, looking at wonderful illustrations.  As warm and sweet as the memory was, though, it wasn’t until I had my own child that I realized how important the read aloud tradition was to me and how much I wanted to duplicate it in my own home.  There started an obssession of sorts.  As a young mom I spent very little money on myself, but I sure did love to buy those children’s books, and I spent hours every day reading to my kids.  I loved every minute of it.

Because my husband grew up in San Marino, I spent a fair amount of time in town even before we lived here ourselves.  I clearly remember the first day that I ventured into San Marino Toy and Book for the first time, with my eldest daughter peering over my shoulder from her backpack.  I was completely captivated!  The very same titles that I remembered enjoying as a child were spread out on the bookshelves of this darling privately owned shop.  I think that the first book that I purchased was “Curious George”.  As I read this book to Ellie and then to my other kids time and again, I was transported back to the wonderful experience with my own mom.  The story is so clever, the illustrations so fabulous and the theme so enduring.  How could you not love it?

Well, my trips to San Marino Toy and Book did not end there.  I haunted that store all through my kid’s young years.  I was on a first name basis with the book specialists, knew the owner, Betty, and could always count on excellent service and a fabulous selection.  If I was going to read a book to my kids, I wanted it to be good, and that is what San Marino Toy and Book stocks exclusively – great kid’s literature.  We went to book signings (even met Julie Andrews once!), bought birthday presents, haunted the beanie baby section for new arrivals and enjoyed every minute of our time in the store.  San Marino Toy and Book is an incredible neighborhood gem, which serves a vital role in our family oriented community.

Does San Marino sound like the kind of place that you would like to live?  Call me and I would love to show you around.  We can even peek our heads into the famous San Marino Toy and Book.  I am ready and excited to help you with any of your San Marino, California real estate needs!  I can be reached by telephone at (626) 840-9149 or by email at carrie.benuska@gmail.com.