Blairs Speed Shop For Sale??

Does anyone know the story why Blairs is for sale? Did they close!
Just saw this!
http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/18359671/2771-E-Foothill-Blvd-Pasadena-CA/

 

Yes.

 

Is this just a case of retirement? Or ? Too bad either way.... That place is an icon of hot rod history. Damn.


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wish i had some money...

 

Don died in 2011. Unsure if there was a successor.

 

Phil Lukens has owned and operated it for many years.

 

I really would have expected there to be a successor to keep it going. That's a damn shame. How cool would it be to own Blair's ? Wish I had a million $$


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wow, i live 15 mins from there and i did not know this. hope it doesn't die.

 

I was there this weekend. He wants to sell property and move to a smaller location

 

I know that Don Blair had a little shop on Citrus in Covina several years ago(behind a thrift store right above the train tracks). He and Red ran the place, so he hasn't had the old shop for years.
The place in Covina was sold to a guy named Beaver and now it's gone too.

 

NO - it has not closed. Phil has had the property for sale, with or with out the business for a while now.

yes, Phil is ready to move on.

Phil Lukens worked for Don since the 1960's and bought the place from him in 1975. Don continued working there for many years and then had a different business in Covina for a few years, doing motor work and running his Sprint Car team. He passed in 2011

 

Tks for reply! I knew Don passed was more worried that something happened to Phil! Good news he's still with us! Tks Bill

 

That Loopnet link is for subscribers only - anyone able to screen capture it? I'd like to see the listing.

Steve

 

I just googled the address and several other open listings come up.

http://www.cityfeet.com/cont/forsale/ln18359671/2771-e-foothill-blvd-pasadena-ca-91107

 

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Sale: Retail Please select at least one property type below.

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<LABEL class="notprinted tag">Retail For Sale</LABEL> 2771 E. Foothill Blvd.

2771 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107

• Summary
• Map
• Street View

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• <LABEL class=key>Price:</LABEL>$980,000.00
• <LABEL class=key>Listing Type:</LABEL>For Sale
• <LABEL class=key>Property Type:</LABEL>Retail
• <LABEL class=key>Lot Size:</LABEL>0.46 AC
• <LABEL class=key>Listing ID:</LABEL>OP18359671

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2767 East Foothill Boulevard, Pasadena, California Address is approximate







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Description

The parcels for sale are the current service shop on the western portion of the property consisting of parcels 5750-031-027 and 5750-031-028 with a size of approximately 7,500 square feet. Property to be demised from main property with its own access and dividing wall per a survey. SELLER WILL ENTERTAIN AN OFFER FOR THE ENTIRE PROPERTY / 2771 E. Foothill Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91107 CONSISTING OF APPROXIMATELY 20,000SF....submit an offer w/financials for review and response. All measurements of property to be verified..

 

Thanks guys.

Steve

 

This was my hot rod life from around 1957 to when I left California in the mid-60s. Worked there in the early 1960s, Blair sponsored the digger in my avatar...went back a few years ago, introduced myself to Phil Lukens, who said "if I had known what I was getting into, i might not have bought the shop from Don." I don't know how business has been, but the shop has been there since the late '40s when Don moved int from its original Arroyo Parkway location. I do hope it continues, but understand that after all these years Phil might want to move on.

btw, Don Blair sold an early track roadster to Andy Granatelli, who just passed away. Somewhere (maybe in Don Montgomery's many books) there is a shot of Don in front of the old Arroyo Parkway with the roadster on a trailer in back of Don's '46 Merc ragtop, ready to leave for Chicago, where I think Andy lived at the time. Funny how far back these pioneers go!

 

I think it would be a good idea if Solospeedshop <SCRIPT type=text/javascript> vbmenu_register("postmenu_9502887", true); </SCRIPT> would buy it. Those in favor, say YA.

 

When I mentioned "LimeWorks for sale?" in my tread, it brought out some Hamb A**holes. Be careful these trolls might hit your page! Sucks to see these shops closing or moving.

 

Did he ever open on Saturdays? I've lived next to the Rose Bowl for 30 years and never set foot in the place because it was only open during the week and closed early. Still tough to see it go, local legend beating back Jegs, Summit, and Speedway/China parts.

 

It was open on Saturdays in the early-mid 60s when I worked there, we did some of our best business then...when I went back a few years ago, I was surprised to find it closed (James, where did you live? I was close enough to the Rose Bowl to be able to hear the New Year's Rose Bowl game, on Calif. Blvd.)

 

C-Mon you gold chainers buy it so it doesnt vanish

 

My dad worked there in the mid/late 60's. Damn, wish I could buy it.

 

Who was your dad? We had a guy named Ed Clark who had lived in Oregon, worked there starting around '63-64 (?) I think he went back to Oregon after Blair's.

 

My dad was Danny Roberts. The car in my avatar was one he built and ran while working there. I was born/raised in SoCal but moved away in the 80's or I probably would have attempted to get a job there. I spoke to Phil the last time I was in Cali, but that was about ten years ago.

 

SOLO. See you at the usual place in the morning. 8:30 sounds good to me.

 

I'm pretty sure Danny (your dad) worked the parts counter. He is the guy who originally bought my Anglia as a dead stock street car from a little old lady in Pasadena. He then sold the car to Jay Lindsley who built the first "Blair's Anglia" out of it. Pete Eastwood was working there then and just Sunday he was telling me about remembering the car when it was stock and Danny had purchased it. He and Mike Hoge helped Jay out a bit during the construction of the car. Ifs he still with us? I'd love to hear his recollections.

 

I'm sorry to say that we lost him in '94 to heart failure. He would tell me endless stories about his shenanigans while we worked in the garage. He took me to a Blair's reunion party in the early '80's (I was about 10-12 years old) and I was flattered that all the guys knew who I was and everyone asked us what we were going to build for my first car. I didn't realize at the time how important all that was since it seemed like just part of life. I couldn't have been more wrong.

I'm working on updating the thread I started in his memory (link in my signature) and the car I'm going to attempt to recreate. If you have any info or stories you'd like to share, please feel free to post them. I joined here in '04 in hopes to connect with people like you who knew him. It's taken a bit but it's all coming together. I Spoke to Doug Robinson a couple months ago and had a great conversation. He's helping with info about the car since he and my dad built it together.

Speaking of all this- I should try to get ahold of Phil so he knows what my plans are.

Chip

 

I'm on the back side of the Eagle Rock. We lost Glendale Speed, (I laughed when I saw the guy at the gas station in Two Lane Blacktop wearing a Glendale Speed t-shirt), Super Shops on Colorado, the old Service Center(s). It's tough to find a speed shop nowdays with all the competition from the mail order boys.

Always meant to get over to Blair's dammit...

 

So GO - it's still open